Urbanisation, peripheral and rural Flanders, breakdown by statistical sectors — situation 2013

Based on the statistical sectors, the Flemish Region is divided into 3 spatial types: urbanisation — periphery — rural. The classification is fully automatic using a specially developed algorithm, based on a number of spatial variables and whether or not the sectors are connected. The spatial variables used are space take, employment density, population density and total population per cluster of sectors. For each spatial variable, a fixed threshold is set based on a choice by experts, where the thresholds were assessed on their capacity to identify well-known examples of urban, peripheral and rural areas in a sufficiently discriminatory manner. This distribution based on statistical sectors does not aim to be directly applicable to spatial policy, but rather to provide a spatial-typological framework to carry out analyses on the Flemish territory. For example, in the Space Report, reference numbers are calculated on the basis of this spatial typology. The method was partially revised compared to the first version published in 2018. This geodata layer was therefore replaced in 2021 by a reworked version for condition 2013, in order to remain in line with the adjusted methodology used in the layout of state 2019. More details about the method used for typological classification can be found in the technical report: https://archief-algemeen.omgeving.vlaanderen.be/xmlui/handle/acd/746142