Spatially conditioned dynamics between population and built form

Abstract

Understanding the relationship between population and the built environment is essential for addressing socio-spatial inequalities. While researchers have long theorized these dynamics, empirical analyses remain limited. This study proposes a spatially explicit framework to quantify the relationship between population and the built environment at the scale of local census tracts in Czechia. The approach integrates a fine-grained classification of built form with a comprehensive set of socio-demographic indicators. The method compares global and geographically weighted classification models to assess the overall strength and spatial variability of the associations between population structure and built form. The results of the study show that population characteristics exhibit linear, spatially conditioned relationships with built form, emphasizing that spatial heterogeneity must be accounted for when assessing these relationships. The analysis also reveals that some built form types are more socially selective than others, underscoring the importance of built form in reproducing social-spatial inequalities.