From macro to micro: Two approaches to study urban mobility in a Brazilian municipality

Abstract

This chapter discusses urban mobility considering two main analyses approaches. Based on the relationship between mobility and vulnerability, the first approach analyzed commuter's vulnerability using basin as unit of analysis. The second one analyzes variables related to land use such as population density and its relation with job offer in the city and people's income using traffic zones as unit of analysis. The two scales dialogue and can be used concurrently. The municipality of São José dos Campos (Brazil) was used as a case study. Origin-destination research was the main database used in the analyses. Authors used geospatial tools, like spatial join operation and thematic maps, which enable the in-depth analysis of important data for urban studies or transport planning and can be replicated in any study area. The analysis of mobility data aggregated by basin contributed to an understanding of the implications of the urban configuration, with its displacement patterns related to water courses if any flooding or landslide occurs and interrupts people's flow.