Patrones de ocupación del suelo en el periurbano de Cuenca. Caso de estudio: Parroquia San Joaquín

Abstract

The growth of the city has led to the emergence of peri-urban areas: those surrounding cities where the urbanization process gradually extends and inherently carries a natural tendency towards the occupation of rural zones. This phenomenon causes the physical and social boundaries between rural and urban areas to become increasingly blurred and imprecise. During the 1970s, the city of Cuenca already exhibited growth trends beyond its limits, which is evidenced by new forms of land occupation. The parish of San Joaquín serves as a clear example of this phenomenon. This thesis conducts a study on the different forms of land occupation that have developed in the Study Area, the factors influencing their transformation, and their implications. A methodology is employed that, through a descriptive analysis, allows for the combination of qualitative and numerical data. Six main types of occupation patterns with various levels of transformation have been identified. In 2012, the predominant pattern was that of dispersed occupation, while by 2023, the predominant pattern shows a medium-density occupation. This shift is conditioned by several factors, including the area's proximity to the urban boundary of the city and its location near a major road, the Molleturo – Naranjal highway.