Dynamics of Urban Sprawl, Vacant Land, and Green Spaces on the Metropolitan Fringe of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Since the 1950s, Brazilian cities have experienced intense growth because of the country’s industrialization, and from 2001 policies aimed at the prevention of disordered urban development have been implemented. The lack of green spaces and excess of vacant land are difficulties faced by most Brazilian cities; therefore, understanding the development of these factors in the urban area is essential. This case study was conducted in Atibaia (a city located in the metropolitan fringe of São Paulo) with the following goals: (1) understand urban sprawl and the spatial development of green spaces and vacant land in five different time periods (1962, 1972, 1978, 1995, and 2009), (2) analyze policies that would contribute to an ordered urban development, and (3) serve as guidelines for urban-planning studies, local authorities, and researchers. The results of this study show the following: (1) urban sprawl is a continuous process (even in 2009, when 21% of the land was vacant) and is encouraged by a permissible master plan, and (2) the increase of green spaces is the result of growth upon the remaining forests in periurban regions.