Walkability Near and Far from the Beaches of Cabedelo, Brazil: An Analysis of Land Use Mix, Urban Configuration, and Population Density
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63955/BuiltForm.35Keywords:
walkability, land use mix, urban configuration, population density, CabedeloAbstract
Walkability and access to public leisure spaces impact the quality of urban life. It is believed that in Cabedelo, a coastal city neighbouring Joao Pessoa capital city, in the state of Paraíba, beaches can attract people and more pedestrian uses. Based on variables highlighted for walkability in the literature, this research analyses areas with more or less favorable patterns of walkability in Cabedelo comparing areas close and far to its coastline. Data from the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) and OpenStreetMap (OSM) are used, and open tools such as Python libraries and QGIS, involving four analysis steps: urban configuration, land use mix, population density, and correlations between these variables. Results reveal areas with high walking potential distributed throughout the city — from the south, close to João Pessoa, to the north, by Cabedelo’s initial settlement. Intermares is the coastal neighborhood that stands out the most, with greater intensity and spatial coverage of the analysed indicators. Results highlight the potential of open data and tools to identify priority areas for urban infrastructure interventions, contributing to evidence-based planning. The proposed methodology is replicable in other contexts, supporting strategies to promote active mobility and improve the urban environment.
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