[pt] Esta pesquisa empenha-se em desvendar as transformações nos e dos lugares rurais, a partir das localidades do município de Nova Friburgo – RJ (que compõem um dos mais importantes eixos de urbanidades no rural no estado do Rio de Janeiro, conforme RUA, 2017). Compreendemos que os espaços rurais estão inseridos em uma espacialidade capitalista, produtora e produto de desigualdades, mas, também, de diferenças. A partir disso, procura-se demonstrar como as transformações sociotécnicas (notadamente de informação e comunicação) atuam, de forma contraditória, como homogeneizadoras, fragmentadoras e hierarquizadoras dos lugares rurais. Deste modo, a pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar as relações urbano-rurais intensificadas pela mudança nas técnicas de comunicação e informação em um contexto de metropolização e globalização do espaço. Isto exige que, para além de uma análise que se apoie sobre as noções de campo e cidade, busque-se uma compreensão que considere o complexo processo que se dá no contexto metropolitano, onde entrecruzam-se urbanidades e ruralidades. Propõe, também, o exercício de confrontar e relacionar as múltiplas representações do espaço rural (e, em específico, do espaço rural friburguense). Conclui-se que há uma produção multiescalar do lugar rural, que, num contexto de metropolização do espaço, dá-se a partir de uma série de contradições: dispersão e centralização, inclusão e exclusão, presenças e ausências. As técnicas de comunicação e informação intensificam e aceleram um processo de inserção do lugar rural na escala global, através da sua midiatização, seu modelamento para o consumo (como uma representação de espaço de lazer e turismo antiurbano, porém, permeado de urbanidades) e sua apropriação por empresas globais. Assim, o espaço se integra e, ao mesmo tempo em que se eliminam dicotomias anteriormente existentes, reafirmam-se assimetrias entre os espaços. / [en] This research aims to unravel the transformations in and of rural places of the municipality of Nova Friburgo - RJ (which make up one of the most important axes of urbanities in the rural in the state of Rio de Janeiro, according to RUA, 2017). We understand that rural spaces are inserted in a capitalist spatiality, producer and product of inequalities, but also of differences. From this, we seek to demonstrate how sociotechnical transformations (notably those regarding information and communication technologies) act, in a contradictory way, as homogenizing, fragmenting and hierarchizing rural areas. While previous dichotomies are eliminated, integrating space, asymmetries between rural and urban spaces are reaffirmed. Thus, the research aims to analyze the urban-rural relations intensified by the change in communication and information techniques in a context of metropolization and globalization of space. This requires that, in addition to an analysis based on the notions of countryside and city, an understanding must be sought that considers the complex process that occurs in the metropolitan context, where urbanities and ruralities intersect. It also proposes the exercise of confronting and relating the multiple representations of rural space (and, in particular, the rural area of Nova Friburgo). We conclude that there is a multi-scale production of the rural place, which, in a context of metropolization of space, occurs from a series of contradictions: dispersion and centralization, inclusion and exclusion, presence and absence. Communication and information techniques intensify and accelerate a process of insertion of the rural place in the global scale (precariously), through its mediatization, its modeling for consumption (as a representation of leisure space and anti-urban tourism, however, permeated by urbanities) and their appropriation by global companies. Thus, space is integrated and, while eliminating previously existing dichotomies, asymmetries between spaces are reaffirmed

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / This study evaluated the sensitivity of TAWS detection range calculations to the spatial resolution of scenario backgrounds. Sixteen independent sites were analyzed to determine TAWS background. Multispectral satellite data were processed to different spatial resolutions from 1m to 8km. The resultant imagery was further processed to determine TAWS background type. The TAWS background type was refined to include soil moisture characteristics. Soil moisture analyses were obtained using in situ measurements, the Air Force's Agricultural-Meteorological (AGRMET) model and the Army's Fast All-seasons Soil Strength (FASST) model. The analyzed imagery was compared to the current default 1o latitude by 1o of longitude database in TAWS. The use of the current default TAWS background database was shown to result in TAWS ranges differing from the 1m standard range by 18-23%. The uncertainty was reduced to 5% when background resolution was improved to 8km in rural areas. By contrast, in urban regions the uncertainty was reduced to 14% when spatial resolution was reduced to 30m. These results suggest that the rural and urban designations are important to the definition of a background database. / First Lieutenant, United States Air Force

L’aménagement du territoire est le résultat de différents processus économiques, politiques, sociaux, culturels et environnementaux. Le territoire peut être vu de différentes manières et reflète les visions et les intérêts des acteurs qui le construisent. L'objectif principal de cette thèse consiste à explorer les dynamiques qui soutiennent l'aménagement de Bogota, capitale de la Colombie, et d’une municipalité avoisinant Soacha. L'analyse se concentre sur trois aspects qui correspondent aux objectifs spécifiques de cette étude : les récentes politiques publiques d'aménagement du territoire qui régissent la zone étudiée, le rôle des acteurs sociaux et les relations urbano-rurales créées dans ce nouveau contexte. La thèse souligne des éléments contextuels qui servent à comprendre les transformations récentes de Bogota et de Soacha dans leurs implications spatiales. Différents processus ont apparus dans la nouvelle géographie de cette région, y compris la mondialisation, les transformations économiques, les nouvelles lois relatives à l'aménagement du territoire, les nouvelles formes de participation, ainsi que les décisions des administrations municipales qui ont contribué à établir ce nouvel ordre. Les éléments théoriques traitées dans cette étude privilégient deux perspectives ou visions du territoire : 1) celle utilisée par l'État où le territoire est considéré comme un espace limité par des frontières; et 2) la perspective culturaliste où le territoire est défini par son appropriation et par par l’identité qu’il confère. Cependant, une nouvelle tendance émerge à travers l'intégration de ces deux perspectives, autant en Colombie que dans d’autres pays. Ainsi, l'analyse démontre que de nouveaux acteurs ont émergé, par exemple le Conseil territorial de la planification qui représente la concrétisation du discours de participation communautaire exprimé dans différentes lois. De plus, la population paysanne qui a résisté à l'expansion urbaine de Bogota constitue un acteur primordial. Les nouveaux patrons de relations urbaine-rurale démontrent une très grande diversité d'activités et de fonctions présentes dans cette nouvelle « frontière » très dynamique où des éléments urbains et ruraux sont combinés, toujours présents mais aussi toujours en évolution. / Territorial planning is the result of diverse economic, political, social, cultural and environmental processes. The ‘territory’ is seen as reflecting the visions and interests of the actors who participate in its construction. In this sense, the main goal of this dissertation is to explore the dynamics that underly territorial planning in Colombia, in particular in the district capital of Bogota and its nearby municipality Soacha – part of the metropolitan region of Bogota. This dissertation analyzes three aspects that constitute at the same time the dissertation’s specific goals: the recent public policies for territorial planning that apply to the study zone; the role of social actors; and the new situation with respect to urban - rural relations that are present there. The dissertation emphasizes the contextual elements that serve as the basis for understanding the recent transformations of the case study areas and their spatial implications. Different processes have been established in the new geography of the region. Globalization, economic transformations, new standards and laws related to territorial planning, new forms of participation, and the political decisions of the district and municipal administrations have contributed to the construction of this new order. The theoretical underpinnings of this study highlight two perspectives or visions of the territory. On the one hand, there is the vision used and applied by the State in which the territory is understood as a space limited by administrative boundaries; and, on the other hand, the cultural perspective in which the territory is defined by its social appropriation and identity. However, a new approach is emerging, not only in Colombia but in many other countries, from the integration of these two visions or perspectives. The analysis shows how new social actors such us the “Territorial Planning Councils” (Consejo Territorial de Planeación) have been created as a consequence of incorporating a participatory approach into different public laws and frameworks. Furthermore, actors such as the peasants now carry out actions of resistance to stop or at least limit urban expansion. The new patterns of urban - rural relations show that there is a significant diversity of activities and functions present in this very dynamic ‘frontier’ in which both urban and rural elements are present continually present but always evolving. / El ordenamiento de un territorio es el resultado de diferentes procesos económicos, políticos, sociales, culturales y ambientales. El territorio es visto de diferentes maneras de acuerdo a visiones e intereses de los actores que son quienes lo construyen. El objetivo central de esta tesis consiste en explorar las dinámicas que sostienen el ordenamiento territorial en Colombia, particularmente en el distrito capital de Bogotá y de su municipio vecino Soacha, los cuales forman parte de la región metropolitana de Bogotá. El análisis se concentra en tres aspectos que corresponden a su vez a los objetivos específicos planteados. Las recientes políticas públicas de ordenamiento territorial que rigen para la zona estudiada, el rol de los actores sociales y las nuevas relaciones urbano-rurales allí presentes. La tesis destaca elementos de contexto que sirven para comprender las recientes transformaciones de los estudios de caso y sus implicaciones espaciales. Diferentes procesos se consolidan en la nueva geografía de la región. La mundialización, las transformaciones económicas, nuevas normas y leyes relativas al ordenamiento territorial, nuevas formas de participación así como las decisiones de las administraciones distrital y municipal contribuyen a establecer este nuevo orden. Las referencias teóricas manejadas en este estudio privilegian dos tendencias o visiones del territorio. La utilizada por el Estado y en donde el territorio es considerado como un espacio limitado por fronteras y la visión culturalista en donde el territorio se define por apropiación y por identidad con el mismo. Sin embargo una nueva tendencia emerge a través de la integración de las dos visiones, no solamente en Colombia sino en diferentes países, cada uno con sus particularidades propias. Así, el análisis muestra que nuevos actores como el Consejo Territorial de Planeación surgen como concreción del discurso de participación expresado en las diferentes leyes y que otros como los campesinos realizan acciones de resistencia en el sitio para detener la expansión urbana. Las nuevas relaciones urbano-rurales dejan ver que la diversidad de actividades y de funciones existe en una franja urbano-rural muy dinámica en donde la combinación de elementos urbanos y rurales está presente y en constante evolución.

Le processus d’urbanisation conduit à un ensemble de transformations et perturbations qui peuvent avoir des conséquences sur la flore spontanée. Ce travail de thèse porte sur les communautés végétales des espaces herbacés ordinaires distribués au sein 3 aires urbaines de l’ouest de la France : Angers, Nantes et la Roche-sur-Yon. A travers deux approches, taxonomique et fonctionnelle, l’objectif est d’analyser les variations de diversités et de composition floristiques le long de gradients paysagers (notamment d’urbanisation et de connectivité des habitats). Ces milieux apparaissent diversifiés, tout en ne présentant qu’un faible nombre d’espèces exotiques. Le gradient urbain-rural structure les communautés, établissant notamment de fortes distinctions dans leurs compositions spécifiques, et ce, malgré l’absence de variations en terme de richesse et d’homogénéisation. Ces distinctions sont en lien avec des traits relatifs à leurs exigences écologiques (habitat, pH, humidité, lumière)et au niveau de perturbation plus élevé en ville. Ces relations varient malgré tout selon que l’on considère l’abondance locale ou régionale des espèces suggérant que d’autres mécanismes viennent s’ajouter à ces processus de filtre. La mesure in situ de trois traits fonctionnels (hauteur, SLA et phénologie) montre également l’importance de ce processus de filtre sur les espèces à un niveau intraspécifique. L’ensemble des résultats montre la façon dont ces espèces communes s’assemblent au regard des processus écologiques à l’oeuvre dans des environnements urbains, et permet d’ouvrir des perspect / The process of urbanisation leads to a series of transformations and disturbances that may have consequences for wild plant communities. This thesis presents a study of the plant communities of ordinary grasslands distributed among three cities of western France: Angers, Nantes and La Roche-sur-Yon. Using both taxonomical and functional approaches, the aim is to analyse the variation in plant diversity and composition along landscape gradients, in particular those of urbanisation and habitat connectivity. Such grassland habitats appear to be diverse, despite a low number of exotic species. The urban-rural gradient structures such communities, in particular by strongly modifying species composition; and this despite an absence of variation in species richness or of homogenisation. These modifications in community structure are linked to traits for ecological requirements (for habitat, pH, humidity or light)or for adaptation to higher levels of disturbance in towns. These relationships vary according to species’ local or regional abundance, suggesting that other mecanisms accompany the filtering process. Taking into account three functional traits (height, SLA and phenology) measured in situ shows that the filtering process also has consequences at intraspecific level. Taken together, the results show how common species are assembled in response to ecological processes operating in urban environments and open up new perspectives and applications for the integration of grassland plant communities into biodiversity conservation objectives in urban areas

1994年財政分權以後，中國大陸城鄉收入差距經歷了一段縮小又擴大的變化，許多學者開始將研究焦點放在財政分權對於城鄉收入差距的影響層面。為了瞭解財政分權對於城鄉收入差距到底造成何種影響，本研究目的有以下三點：一、為探討財政分權對於城鄉收入差距是否造成影響，二、為瞭解制度因素、地方政府財政支出對於城鄉收入差距是否造成影響，三、有鑑於財政上絕對財政中央集權與財政地方分權可能是造成城鄉收入差距擴大的兩個極端，不同於過去的相關研究，本研究認為財政分權與城鄉收入差距間，可能存在非線性的關係，因此在本研究中變數中加入財政分權平方項，對於這樣的假設進行檢測。 本研究針對中國大陸1995至2008年29個省市地區資料，以雙因子固定效果模型進行研究。根據實證結果顯示，在財政自主分權指標對於城鄉收入差距的影響層面，在財政自主小於臨界水準時，隨著財政自主逐漸提高，將會縮小城鄉收入差距；但其負向效果將隨著財政自主提高後逐漸減弱，到達某個臨界水準後，財政自主對於城鄉收入差距的影響將由負轉正。意即中國大陸地方政府財政自主分權指標與城鄉收入差距間呈現非線性的關係，而是呈現類似正U型的曲線。在其他影響城鄉收入差距的變數方面上，本研究發現二元經濟結構係數、財政支出分權指標對於城鄉收入差距有正向的影響，而科技技術財政支出對於城鄉收入差距有負向的影響。透過本研究之結果，可以解釋財政分權對於城鄉收入差距影響結論不一致的說法，進而瞭解縮小地區性城鄉收入差距的最適財政分權程度。 / This purpose of this study is to investigate the changes in mainland China’s regional urban-rural income differential and its determinants during the period of 1995 to 2008. This study uses provincial-level data to analyze whether or not fiscal decentralization provides a positive effect for urban-rural income differential.In order to examine the role of fiscal decentralization in China's regional urban-rural income differential, this study establishes two empirical models with the square term of fiscal decentralization as an independent variable. After we estimate the two-way fixed-effects model of the urban-rural income differential equation, the empirical result shows the financial autonomy of local governments in China and regional urban-rural income differential relationship is nonlinear, but the show is U-shaped curve.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of Government and Public Administration

The past two decades have witnessed significant growth in home-based work (HBW), particularly home-based business (HBB) activity and self-employment. These phenomena are attributed to factors such as flexible organization of production. While some empirical accounts on HBW and HBB activity in Canada do exist, they have mostly been conducted at the national or urban level rather than in rural areas. This thesis, therefore, places greater emphasis on rural HBBs in Saskatchewan where out-migration of people is threatening the viability and sustainability of rural and small communities. It is argued that rural sustainability largely depends on economic viability. The study area for the research includes the City of Saskatoon and the countryside surrounding this city. <p>The overall goal of this research is to contribute to the discussion of rural sustainability by considering HBBs as a potential strategy to achieve sustainability in rural areas and small communities. Therefore, the primary objectives of the dissertation are to examine the nature and degree of relationships of home business activity between rural, rural-urban fringe and urban areas, and the implications on links for sustainability of rural households and communities; to examine the relationship of HBB activity to the concept of rural entrepreneurship and business development; and to assess the contributions of rural and small town HBBs to the sustainability of households and communities in Saskatchewan. <p>A combination of the concept of sustainable community development, the von Thunen model and the competitive strategy model (i.e., cost-leadership, differentiation, focus) provide the theoretical framework of the thesis. Through snowball sampling and mail questionnaire surveys, primary data on HBBs were obtained from Saskatoon and its surrounding regions in Saskatchewan for micro-level analysis. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were employed to analyze the data. <p>Major findings of the thesis include the linkages that HBBs create among places and the impact of links on community sustainability; and the apparent spatial variations in HBBs, motivations, competitive strategies, and benefits of home businesses from the urban core to the limits of the rural hinterland. It was also found that home businesses contribute positively to the sustainability of households and communities in rural Saskatchewan. Specifically, they generate significant revenue and employment opportunities for people, while supporting local economies through their networks, purchasing and selling of goods and services locally as well as keeping managers and members of their households in rural areas and small communities for considerable number of years. Indeed home-based occupation is a vital component of the mechanisms for rural sustainability. Also, this thesis proposed a rural-urban HBB model for future social science research. <p>Major conceptual underpinnings of the research include rural-urban relations; regional and community economic development, sustainable community development; rural entrepreneurship, home-based work, home business, self-employment, competitive strategy, and the von Thunen Isolated State model.

The past two decades have witnessed significant growth in home-based work (HBW), particularly home-based business (HBB) activity and self-employment. These phenomena are attributed to factors such as flexible organization of production. While some empirical accounts on HBW and HBB activity in Canada do exist, they have mostly been conducted at the national or urban level rather than in rural areas. This thesis, therefore, places greater emphasis on rural HBBs in Saskatchewan where out-migration of people is threatening the viability and sustainability of rural and small communities. It is argued that rural sustainability largely depends on economic viability. The study area for the research includes the City of Saskatoon and the countryside surrounding this city. <p>The overall goal of this research is to contribute to the discussion of rural sustainability by considering HBBs as a potential strategy to achieve sustainability in rural areas and small communities. Therefore, the primary objectives of the dissertation are to examine the nature and degree of relationships of home business activity between rural, rural-urban fringe and urban areas, and the implications on links for sustainability of rural households and communities; to examine the relationship of HBB activity to the concept of rural entrepreneurship and business development; and to assess the contributions of rural and small town HBBs to the sustainability of households and communities in Saskatchewan. <p>A combination of the concept of sustainable community development, the von Thunen model and the competitive strategy model (i.e., cost-leadership, differentiation, focus) provide the theoretical framework of the thesis. Through snowball sampling and mail questionnaire surveys, primary data on HBBs were obtained from Saskatoon and its surrounding regions in Saskatchewan for micro-level analysis. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were employed to analyze the data. <p>Major findings of the thesis include the linkages that HBBs create among places and the impact of links on community sustainability; and the apparent spatial variations in HBBs, motivations, competitive strategies, and benefits of home businesses from the urban core to the limits of the rural hinterland. It was also found that home businesses contribute positively to the sustainability of households and communities in rural Saskatchewan. Specifically, they generate significant revenue and employment opportunities for people, while supporting local economies through their networks, purchasing and selling of goods and services locally as well as keeping managers and members of their households in rural areas and small communities for considerable number of years. Indeed home-based occupation is a vital component of the mechanisms for rural sustainability. Also, this thesis proposed a rural-urban HBB model for future social science research. <p>Major conceptual underpinnings of the research include rural-urban relations; regional and community economic development, sustainable community development; rural entrepreneurship, home-based work, home business, self-employment, competitive strategy, and the von Thunen Isolated State model.

L’aménagement du territoire est le résultat de différents processus économiques, politiques, sociaux, culturels et environnementaux. Le territoire peut être vu de différentes manières et reflète les visions et les intérêts des acteurs qui le construisent. L'objectif principal de cette thèse consiste à explorer les dynamiques qui soutiennent l'aménagement de Bogota, capitale de la Colombie, et d’une municipalité avoisinant Soacha. L'analyse se concentre sur trois aspects qui correspondent aux objectifs spécifiques de cette étude : les récentes politiques publiques d'aménagement du territoire qui régissent la zone étudiée, le rôle des acteurs sociaux et les relations urbano-rurales créées dans ce nouveau contexte. La thèse souligne des éléments contextuels qui servent à comprendre les transformations récentes de Bogota et de Soacha dans leurs implications spatiales. Différents processus ont apparus dans la nouvelle géographie de cette région, y compris la mondialisation, les transformations économiques, les nouvelles lois relatives à l'aménagement du territoire, les nouvelles formes de participation, ainsi que les décisions des administrations municipales qui ont contribué à établir ce nouvel ordre. Les éléments théoriques traitées dans cette étude privilégient deux perspectives ou visions du territoire : 1) celle utilisée par l'État où le territoire est considéré comme un espace limité par des frontières; et 2) la perspective culturaliste où le territoire est défini par son appropriation et par par l’identité qu’il confère. Cependant, une nouvelle tendance émerge à travers l'intégration de ces deux perspectives, autant en Colombie que dans d’autres pays. Ainsi, l'analyse démontre que de nouveaux acteurs ont émergé, par exemple le Conseil territorial de la planification qui représente la concrétisation du discours de participation communautaire exprimé dans différentes lois. De plus, la population paysanne qui a résisté à l'expansion urbaine de Bogota constitue un acteur primordial. Les nouveaux patrons de relations urbaine-rurale démontrent une très grande diversité d'activités et de fonctions présentes dans cette nouvelle « frontière » très dynamique où des éléments urbains et ruraux sont combinés, toujours présents mais aussi toujours en évolution. / Territorial planning is the result of diverse economic, political, social, cultural and environmental processes. The ‘territory’ is seen as reflecting the visions and interests of the actors who participate in its construction. In this sense, the main goal of this dissertation is to explore the dynamics that underly territorial planning in Colombia, in particular in the district capital of Bogota and its nearby municipality Soacha – part of the metropolitan region of Bogota. This dissertation analyzes three aspects that constitute at the same time the dissertation’s specific goals: the recent public policies for territorial planning that apply to the study zone; the role of social actors; and the new situation with respect to urban - rural relations that are present there. The dissertation emphasizes the contextual elements that serve as the basis for understanding the recent transformations of the case study areas and their spatial implications. Different processes have been established in the new geography of the region. Globalization, economic transformations, new standards and laws related to territorial planning, new forms of participation, and the political decisions of the district and municipal administrations have contributed to the construction of this new order. The theoretical underpinnings of this study highlight two perspectives or visions of the territory. On the one hand, there is the vision used and applied by the State in which the territory is understood as a space limited by administrative boundaries; and, on the other hand, the cultural perspective in which the territory is defined by its social appropriation and identity. However, a new approach is emerging, not only in Colombia but in many other countries, from the integration of these two visions or perspectives. The analysis shows how new social actors such us the “Territorial Planning Councils” (Consejo Territorial de Planeación) have been created as a consequence of incorporating a participatory approach into different public laws and frameworks. Furthermore, actors such as the peasants now carry out actions of resistance to stop or at least limit urban expansion. The new patterns of urban - rural relations show that there is a significant diversity of activities and functions present in this very dynamic ‘frontier’ in which both urban and rural elements are present continually present but always evolving. / El ordenamiento de un territorio es el resultado de diferentes procesos económicos, políticos, sociales, culturales y ambientales. El territorio es visto de diferentes maneras de acuerdo a visiones e intereses de los actores que son quienes lo construyen. El objetivo central de esta tesis consiste en explorar las dinámicas que sostienen el ordenamiento territorial en Colombia, particularmente en el distrito capital de Bogotá y de su municipio vecino Soacha, los cuales forman parte de la región metropolitana de Bogotá. El análisis se concentra en tres aspectos que corresponden a su vez a los objetivos específicos planteados. Las recientes políticas públicas de ordenamiento territorial que rigen para la zona estudiada, el rol de los actores sociales y las nuevas relaciones urbano-rurales allí presentes. La tesis destaca elementos de contexto que sirven para comprender las recientes transformaciones de los estudios de caso y sus implicaciones espaciales. Diferentes procesos se consolidan en la nueva geografía de la región. La mundialización, las transformaciones económicas, nuevas normas y leyes relativas al ordenamiento territorial, nuevas formas de participación así como las decisiones de las administraciones distrital y municipal contribuyen a establecer este nuevo orden. Las referencias teóricas manejadas en este estudio privilegian dos tendencias o visiones del territorio. La utilizada por el Estado y en donde el territorio es considerado como un espacio limitado por fronteras y la visión culturalista en donde el territorio se define por apropiación y por identidad con el mismo. Sin embargo una nueva tendencia emerge a través de la integración de las dos visiones, no solamente en Colombia sino en diferentes países, cada uno con sus particularidades propias. Así, el análisis muestra que nuevos actores como el Consejo Territorial de Planeación surgen como concreción del discurso de participación expresado en las diferentes leyes y que otros como los campesinos realizan acciones de resistencia en el sitio para detener la expansión urbana. Las nuevas relaciones urbano-rurales dejan ver que la diversidad de actividades y de funciones existe en una franja urbano-rural muy dinámica en donde la combinación de elementos urbanos y rurales está presente y en constante evolución.

La diffusione della città nella campagna è evidente in Italia e in Europa (EEA, 2006). L’estensione della scala delle relazioni antropiche, altrettanto. (Hall, Pain, 2006). I dati, pur incerti, testimoniano, anche nel nostro Paese, ritmi di “urbanizzazione” incessanti (ONCS, 2009). La necessità di regolare i rapporti tra le aree rurali e le aree urbane non è certo una esigenza recente, né solo italiana; tuttavia, il suo soddisfacimento assume oggi una nuova importanza e, in certi casi, un’evidente urgenza. I primi modelli di pianificazione territoriale adottati in Italia, influenzati da approcci teorici non esenti da una connotazione ideologica, hanno spesso sottostimato l’effettiva praticabilità di un disegno ideale in un contesto reale (Benevolo, 2010) al punto che né la promozione della trasformazione urbana delle campagne, né il contenimento dell’urbanizzazione hanno prodotto, almeno in Italia, il risultato auspicato e programmato (ibid.). Nel tempo, si registra una modificazione dell’approccio disciplinare in materia di governo del territorio, e con essa si è osservata (e ancora si osserva) una costante innovazione degli strumenti e delle norme (Oliva, 2008). Tuttavia, si rileva un’evidente debolezza metodologica in ordine alla lettura delle relazioni tra città e campagna. Due categorie, ereditate dal passato, che tendono a confermarsi solo agli estremi del continuum territoriale che oggi rappresenta la porzione prevalente dello spazio contemporaneo e che per questo vedono attenuare fortemente la propria capacità interpretativa. Da ciò l’evidenza, e in alcuni casi l’urgenza, di una nuova lettura delle relazioni tra urbano e non urbano che registri i nuovi paesaggi e le nuove funzioni svolte dalle campagne urbane (Donadieu, 2006a), tratti l’a-spazialità di molte attività economiche e la conseguente indifferenza localizzativa, prenda atto dell’accresciuta vulnerabilità ecologica dei territori contemporanei, dove i livelli di pressione sulle risorse naturali, a partire dal suolo, sono ormai insostenibili. Una lettura dicotomica, univoca e restrittiva, delle connotazioni territoriali appare forzata: ruralità ed urbanità non sono (più) dimensioni autonome, anzi si confrontano, si sovrappongono, producendo esiti assai differenti. Mappare ed interpretare questi cambiamenti, risulta assai complesso. Del resto, la ruralità non può essere intesa in modo residuale e passivo. Oggi è una controparte attiva e dinamica, nonostante le debolezze endogene del settore primario. Parimenti, l’urbanità, e in particolare, la sua tradizionale capacità di attrazione appare in crisi. Esiste invece un variegato “spazio di mezzo” da interpretare ricercando nuove modalità di rappresentazione. Ne consegue la parziale inutilità o la difficile applicabilità di rigide forme di ordinamento territoriale basate sulla gerarchia di funzioni (produttive o economiche in senso lato), così come la separazione razionalistica degli spazi assegnati a tali funzioni. Per una nuova lettura delle relazioni urbano/rurali è poi necessario analizzare i metodi di classificazione impiegati e sperimentati a livello nazionale ed internazionale, per prenderne atto delle criticità e della parziale incapacità di rilevare adeguatamente la nuova dimensione della periurbanità. La presente tesi si propone, come obiettivo, quello di dare alcune risposte a queste criticità. Dapprima, offre una analisi della evoluzione dei sistemi territoriali, urbani e rurali, anche in chiave storica, e cerca di comprenderne i loro cambiamenti secondo le interpretazioni date da varie scienze sociali. In seguito, cerca di studiare gli effetti delle politiche territoriali fino ad ora implementate, anche in una prospettiva comparata. Infine, offre una rassegna tassonomica delle principali metodologie di classificazione e comprende la sperimentazione di un metodo originale di zonizzazione validato per il contesto lombardo. / The spread of cities into the countryside is evident in Italy and in Europe (EEA, 2006). The extension of the scale of human relationships, as well. (Hall and Pain, 2006). The data, although uncertain, testify, even in our country, the “rhythm of urbanization" incessant” (ONCS, 2009). The need to regulate relations between rural and urban areas is not recent, but its satisfaction assumes a new importance and, in some cases, an obvious urgency. Early models of land use planning adopted in Italy, influenced by theoretical approaches not free of an ideological, have often underestimated the actual feasibility of an ideal design in a real context (Benevolent, 2010). The promotion of urban transformation of rural areas or the containment of urbanization have obtained, at least in Italy, the planned result (ibid.). In time, there is a modification of the approach in disciplinary matters of territorial government, and with it, there was (and still is observed) the constant innovation of tools and standards (Oliva, 2008). However, it notes an obvious methodological weaknesses in order to read the relationship between cities and countryside. Two categories, inherited from the past, which tend to confirm at the extremes of the spatial continuum that today represents the portion of the prevailing contemporary context. This continuum is difficult to interpret. It is necessary to read the new functions of urban campains (Donadieu, 2006), to point out the localization indifference of many economic activities, to take note of the increased ecological vulnerability of contemporary territories, where the levels of pressure on natural resources, starting from the land, are now unsustainable. A dichotomous reading, unique and restrictive, of these new territories appears forced: rurality and urbanity are not (more) dimensions autonomous, indeed, they overlap and produce very different outcomes. Mapping and interpreting these changes is very complex. Moreover, the rurality can not be considered so as residual and passive. Today it is a dynamic and active counterpart, despite the weaknesses of the endogenous primary sector. Likewise, the urbanity, and in particular, its traditional ability to attract several resources appears in crisis. Instead there is a varied "middle space" that is seeking new ways to representation. They follow the partial worthlessness or the difficult applicability of rigid forms of territorial organization based on a hierarchy of functions (productive or economic in the large sense), as well as the rational separation of spaces allocated to these functions. For a new interpretation of urban/rural relations is necessary to start to analyze the methods of classification used and tested at national and international level, to take note of the problems and the partial inability to properly detect the new size of the peripheral urbanity (periurban areas). This thesis aims to give some answers to these critical issues. First, it offers an analysis of the evolution of regional, urban and rural, territorial system and tries to understand their changes according to the interpretations given by various social sciences. Then, it tries to study the effects of regional policies implemented, even in a comparative perspective. Finally, it offers an overview of the main methods of classification and includes an original zoning validated for the context of Lombardy.