Rural and urban areas are often conceptualized as two separate entities and studied accordingly. However, in reality, they are related in multiple ways. Here we explore this relation between rural and urban areas from a land use perspective. We argue that land should be characterized along a gradient from rural to urban. Further, we argue that land use along this gradient typically combines both rural and urban functions. Finally, we point at the complex patterns of migration and mobility between different types of settlements, which is a multidirectional process that further blurs the distinction between rural and urban areas. These propositions are supported by examples from recent research and suggest the need for a more inclusive approach towards the analysis of rural and urban land use systems, as well as plans and policies that target these systems.

This paper analyses built‐up area expansion and socioeconomic segregation within the Greater Paramaribo Region, Suriname. Built‐up expansion between 1987 and 2015 was assessed via time‐series analysis of Landsat images. By identifying visible spatial residential characteristics in Google Earth© images, the residential built‐up area was differentiated into rich, middle, middle to low, and poor residences, signifying different socioeconomic groups. Results show that the built‐up expansion of the region is primarily controlled by the distance to the previously built‐up area, city centre, and roads, as well as land price. The observed expansion mainly consisted of middle and middle to low residences. Dissimilarity indices demonstrate an increasing socioeconomic segregation, especially between rich and poor. A business‐as‐usual model simulation for 2030 indicates that this segregation is likely to remain.

Sub-Saharan African cities are expanding horizontally, demonstrating spatial patterns of urban sprawl and socioeconomic segregation. An important research gap around the geographies of urban populations is that city-wide analyses mask local socioeconomic inequalities. This research focuses on those inequalities by identifying the spatial settlement patterns of socioeconomic groups within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (Uganda). Findings are based on a novel dataset, an extensive household survey with 541 households, conducted in Kampala in 2019. To identify different socioeconomic groups, a k-prototypes clustering method was applied to the survey data. A maximum likelihood classification method was applied on a recent Landsat-8 image of the city and compared to the socioeconomic clustering through a fuzzy error matrix. The resulting maps show how different socioeconomic clusters are located around the city. We propose a simple method to upscale household survey responses to a larger study area, to use these data as a base map for further analysis or urban planning purposes. Obtaining a better understanding of the spatial variability in socioeconomic dynamics can aid urban policy-makers to target their decision-making processes towards a more favorable and sustainable future.

Cities in sub-Saharan Africa are characterised by rapid urban sprawl, which has implications for urban food accessibility. Urban sprawl results in inefficient structures of cities, and is often related to patterns of socioeconomic segregation. An important research gap in food accessibility studies is that these local socioeconomic imbalances are not considered in broad-scale studies. This research analyses how the dimensions of food access (physical, social and economic) relate to the food insecurity and dietary diversity of inhabitants of different socioeconomic groups in the rapidly growing Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (Uganda). We use the Food Insecurity Experience Scale and Household Dietary Diversity Score to assess the overall state of food consumption. To measure physical accessibility, we geographically map the formal food system potential. A radar chart was used to visualise the vulnerability of different socioeconomic groups within the city food system. The results show that more established urban dwellers experience different access vulnerabilities than newly migrated residents, depending on their income. Lower income groups compensate their limited economic accessibility by participating in food sharing networks. Obtaining a better understanding of the dimensions of urban food accessibility can aid stakeholders in the urban food system in their policy making processes towards a more food secure and sustainable future.