Table 1 The effective variables for urban sprawl and their contribution to sprawl shape

1

Population density ratio

PDR (p/m²)

Population ratio per area’s unit

Negative

2

Net population density

NPD (p/m²)

Population ratio per residential area’s unit

Negative

3

Small urban blocks

SUB (%)

% of urban blocks smaller than 1 Ha

Negative

4

Real-estate density

RED (%)

% of real-estate contribution to per area’s unit

Negative

5

Residential parcel size

RPS (m²)

Average parcel size of residential building

Positive

6

Average block size

ABS (Ha)

Average block size

Positive

7

Accessibility to elementary schools

AES (%)

% of persons with accessibility to elementary schools at 1000 m radius

Negative

8

Distance to urban center below than 1 km

DUC1 (%)

% of settled persons with low distance to urban center at below than 1000 m radius

Negative

9

Distance to CBD greater than 3 km

DUC3 (%)

% of settled persons with more distance to urban center at greater than 3000 m radius

Positive

10

Accessibility to commercial centers

ACS (%)

% of persons with accessibility to commercial centers at 500 m radius

Negative

11

Residential land area

RLA (%)

% of residential area from total area

Positive

12

Industrial land area

ILA (%)

% of industrial area from total area

Negative

13

Public land uses

PLU (%)

% of urban public land uses from total area

Negative

14

Mixed land uses

MLU (%)

% of urban mixed land uses from total area

Negative

15

Special land uses

SLU (%)

% of urban special land uses such as urban manufactories from total area

Negative

16

Tourism and recreation area

TRA (%)

% of urban touristic and recreational land uses from total area

Negative

17

Distance to bus station

DBS (m)

Distance to the nearest bus station

Positive

18

Distance to metro station

DMS (m)

Distance to the nearest metro station

Positive