Impact of the Valle de Aburrá in its surroundings: Approach to the territorial transformations between the Valle de Aburrá and San Nicolás

Abstract

The urbanization process that has occurred in the Eastern Antioquenian Plateau in the last three decades and particularly in the last fifteen years in its relation with Medellín has been characterized by an occupation supported in a sprawl type urbanization behavior as opposed to the compact city type of the urban areas, frequently invading the agricultural and natural land.

The present research is framed in the Phase II of the Study of the Form and Urban Growth of the Metropolitan Region, being its purpose to explore the recent territorial transformations that have occurred between the valley of Aburrá and the valley of Saint Nicholas as a phenomenon characteristic of the metropolization process. A digital cartography was built into a geographical information system, GIS, elaborating thematic maps for the analysis based on Territory Support data (hydrography, contours, occupation and infrastructure), and the Metropolitan Growth process spanning three periods 1962, 1979 and 1992, and including a last period 2000-2006 for specific zones.