A Space Syntax Approach: Covid-19 and Socio-Spatial Inequalities in Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

Over the past three years, governments across the globe have enacted various public policy measures to mitigate the multifaceted effects of the Covid-19 virus since its official declaration as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in March 2020. This exploratory study aims to comprehend the impacts of Covid-19, considering urban socio-spatial patterns and socio-economic disparities in Bosa and Chapinero, two boroughs of Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia, South America. Using the socio-economic characterisation provided by the Colombian Statistics Office, National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), and consolidated data on mortality rates, infection levels, and intensive care unit usage from the Bogotá Mayor’s Office, this study aims to assess the impact of Covid-19 in these two distinctly different boroughs in terms of socio-economic status and urban planning for safe and equitable mobility. Utilising Space Syntax as a methodology, we can examine urban morphology and understand social behaviour, connectivity, integration, and urban planning in a major metropolis of the Global South such as Bogotá. Through the lens of a syndemic concept, this study analyses the interplay of multiple health conditions intensified by social inequality. It underlines the amplifying effect of social inequality on the Covid-19 impact, especially in densely populated urban areas with high poverty levels and poor health conditions and infrastructure. This research suggests that urban density and mobility might affect the efficacy of lockdown measures, thus potentially worsening pre-existing health inequalities. The authors conclude this case study and suggest potential avenues for future research in Colombia and beyond.