Analysis and evaluation of costs associated with urban sprawl, focusing on infrastructure networks and accessibility in trend and induced scenarios.

• Grant number: 25/26322-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2025
• End date: November 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Amarilis Lucia Casteli Figueiredo Gallardo
• Grantee: Maria Carla Queiroz Diniz de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/01097-2 - Sustainable growth accomodation for State of São Paulo Cities, AP.CCD

Abstract

Urban sprawl refers to an extensive territorial expansion that advances into areas with little or no infrastructure, green or protected areas, or unsuitable areas with environmental risk. Thus, it is characterized by generating inefficient urban voids, creating low connectivity of the basic infrastructure network, and appropriating areas with socio-environmental functions for the municipality. Furthermore, urban sprawl reinforces the organization of the urbanization model focused on mobility, almost exclusively based on motorized transport, to the detriment of active mobility. As a result, in addition to penalizing the population living in more peripheral areas who depend on public transport to get around, it also contributes to the loss of urban vitality. In this context, this research aims to evaluate the effects of urban sprawl in trend and induced scenarios, focusing on the costs associated with infrastructure and accessibility networks implementation in cities in the state of São Paulo. The applied research will be developed through a quantitative approach and cost analysis within the area of ¿¿urban planning, using four main strategies: bibliographic and documentary research, geospatial analysis, development of methodologies for cost evaluation, and their application in case studies. The aim is to propose technical guidelines and directives for mitigating urban sprawl, considering the costs associated with infrastructure and accessibility networks implementation in urban planning. The results will be disseminated through institutional repositories and indexed publications, technical reports, and guidance manuals for developing public policies. (AU)