Research project S3/10/002 (Research action S3)
Four conurbations are analysed: Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Liege (extended urban conurbations, including surrounding towns). These cities have been selected not only because of their position within Belgium’s urban hierarchy, but equally for comparative purposes: the case of Brussels demonstrates the importance of a growing tertiary economy; in contrast, Antwerp and Ghent remain relatively specialized in industry. Liege, even if it is the main Walloon pole of commercial tertiary sector, must face the impact of industrial decline.
The project’s primary objective is to describe and explain urban spatial structure and its evolution using the localisation of employment and companies as the basis. Nowadays, economists often assume the existence of a powerful centrifugal movement that draws employment and companies out of the city. Geographers do not always share the same conviction. As a result, we test here this hypothesis for various spatial aggregation levels (local districts, statistical sectors, firm’s addresses) for different categories of economic activities. In the process, the latest adapted geo-statistical methods will be used. In particular, we use local and global autocorrelation indexes as well as 3D cartography and new visualisation techniques within the framework of a geographical information system (GIS). This allows us to test scientifically the existence of secondary employment centres within the urban conurbation. In other words, we investigate whether secondary centres exist within conurbations, where they are located, and for how long and for what type of activities? What are the effects of these findings in terms of the future of city regions and for the city’s functions in terms of spatial mismatches? And what are the effects in terms of transport infrastructure and for town and country planning policy?
The project’s specific tasks are as follows:
A. Hypothesis 1:
That centrifugal forces exist which draw companies and jobs away from the city to outlying towns; this process is not homogenous in spatial terms and results in new suburban employment centres.
Proposed method: use is made primarily of local and global autocorrelation indexes and of kernel interpolation.
A.1. Application for Brussels (UCL)
A.2. Application for Antwerp (UA)
A.3. Application for Ghent (UA and UCL)
A.4. Application for Liege (UCL)
B. Hypothesis 2:
That the intensity of the centrifugal forces drawing companies and jobs away from the centres of Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Liège and into outlying areas varies depending on the type of activity and changes over time.
Proposed method: Statistics concerning spatial spread (‘hot spots’ or ‘hotspot areas’) ; local and global autocorrelation indexes, calculated for several periods and for different economic activities; 3D mapping techniques within the framework of a GIS; explanatory models (see hypothesis 1); shift and share analysis.
B.1. Application for Brussels (UCL)B.2. Application for Antwerp (UA)
B.1. Application for Ghent (UA and UCL)
B.2. Application for Liege (UCL)
Each task is conducted in parallel by each group for Antwerp (UA) and for Brussels (UCL). Researchs on Ghent and Liege are then carried out successively. In order to allow comparisons and so that theories may be developed, the same methodology is used for all cities.
Activités économiques et ville européenne: les banlieues ont-elles besoin des centres? : rapport final
Bruxelles : Politique scientifique fédérale, 2005 (SP1544)
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