Fractured Metropolis: a proposal for territorial integration

Abstract

The Metropolitan Region of Recife (Pernambuco), established in 1973 and comprised of 14 municipalities, is  characterized by a low level of integration, hence the term - Fractured Metropolis. This designation arises from the fact that, when applying selected indicators to 12 recent Urban Expansion Sections, 60% of the studied areas exhibit low levels of territorial integration. From an innovation perspective, the proposed and utilized methodology in this investigation is considered relevant as it takes into account both the metropolitan and local scope. Moreover, it allows for extracting elements for comparative analysis based on the factors that contributed to the metropolis' expansion. The data considered have the potential to be used in territorial planning to mitigate spatially dispersed urban expansion, complement urban infrastructure, and identify suitable areas for new social housing developments.

Keywords: Fractured Metropolis, Territorial Integration Level, Interpretative Matrix.