Modelling spatial pattern of population distribution in 50 largest cities in the world: A geospatial approach

Abstract

In past decades, gradient pattern analysis has been used effectively to characterize the spatial pattern of population distribution in cities worldwide. Most of these studies have focused only on individual case studies or a limited number of cities. However, measuring, analyzing, and understanding complex spatial patterns of city population distribution requires comparative studies that extend beyond the isolated case of cities. Therefore, the present study analyses the spatial pattern of population distribution along the gradient distance from the city centers of the world’s 50 largest cities using LandScan™ population data from 2013 through a geospatial approach. For each city, the city center was demarcated based on a landmark place, and population density was calculated using concentric buffers from the city center. The study mainly identified five basic spatial patterns of population distribution along the gradient distance to the city center. In addition, the study contrasted the spatial patterns of population distribution between cities in developing and developed countries.