Clarice Maraschin

Spatial Analysis of School Network Applying Configurational Models

Contemporary urban planning is demanding new tools for analyzing and evaluating impacts of continuous changes occurring in urban systems. The systemic and quantitative character of urban models makes them important tools in the construction of indicators of urban performance. This work aims to: a) present a methodology for spatial analysis based on configurational approach; b) develop an empirical application for the analysis of spatial distribution of a specific urban facility, the schools network in Novo Hamburgo, Brazil. This methodology systemically articulates variables related to urban space (morphological description), to the population (socioeconomic data) and to school facility itself (e.g., type, size and standard). We apply Space Centrality models [1, 2], supported in a GIS (Geographic Information System) environment. The application demonstrates the great potential of the methodology for generating performance indicators, which can support decision-making in planning the school network.