Propuesta de un sistema de asentamientos humanos urbanos como soporte para la equidad territorial Zona de Planificación 7

Abstract

The marked centralism of the country is evident on a zonal scale with the presence of two large population centers in zone 7: Machala and Loja. These urban centers are sources of labor, services and opportunities, and are compared to other smaller cities that tend to depopulate because they do not present the opportunities that the other population centers have. Since the latter are highly dependent on other population centers, within a hierarchical system where the vertical and unidirectional flows prevail, some populations prosper while others decline. Under this approach, the research addresses, the structural themes, attributes and functionality of urban human settlements in Planning Zone 7, using indicators as a first step to evaluate the current system of cities in the distribution of space within the territory, which is obviously unequal. In order to measure this, an approach has been developed in the area of territorial equity from a systemic perspective, revealing disparities between cities in terms of economic, social, urban and environmental aspects. With this precedent, guidelines are projected to improve this design of cities under the criterion of polycentric networks, based on synergy and/or complementary structures, achieved through connections that allow horizontal and vertical flow. This is a better socio-spatial distribution. Efficient and equitable, all in a quest to achieve development for all cities, or in terms of territorial equity to expand the opportunities to achieve that development.