Navigating urban complexity: Area delimitation in transport policy and statistical modelling
Authors:   Katedra Transportu, Wydział Ekonomii, Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Katowicach, Katowice, Polska, Hanusik Andrzej 
Published: November 2024

Research on urban areas constitutes a highly significant field of study in contemporary science. It is worth noting that such research cannot be unequivo- cally assigned to a single scientific discipline; rather, it embodies an interdisci- plinary character. The chosen research direction is therefore highly individual, and the obtained results will shape further understanding of various aspects of urban areas’ functioning in social, economic, political, and transportation con- texts. However it should be emphasized, that in the context of the ongoing phe- nomenon of suburbanization and the increasing challenges faced by contempo- rary urban areas, such research appears not only as an intriguing direction for scientific reflection but also as one of the fundamental determinants of transpor- tation policy. This monograph is dedicated to the exploration of various dimensions of the city, with particular emphasis on the role of delimitation as a tool in transporta- tion policy, simultaneously serving as a determinant of the compatibility of econometric models in polycentric agglomerations. It is also worth emphasizing that the issue of urban area delimitation is often only marginally addressed in scientific literature. Such an approach seems inadequate, as delimitation will largely determine the steps taken within the implemented urban policy. This monograph serves as a response to the identified research gap and may be re- garded as a catalyst for a deeper academic debate in this area. The theoretical aim of this study is to systematize information concerning urban areas, with particular emphasis on the phenomenon of suburbanization and delimitation processes. To achieve this goal, a systematic review of scientific literature in the discussed scope was conducted. The research aim of the mono- graph is to attempt to determine the extent to which area delimitation may influ- ence the fit of econometric models. The research in question is limited to poly- centric regions – dispersed urban areas characterized by the highest degree of spatial-administrative complexity. The Metropolis GZM has been selected as a kind of research testing ground. The monograph seeks to address the following research hypothesis – “the process of area delimitation affects the fit of econo- metric models in polycentric-dispersed agglomerations.” The monograph begins with a chapter enlightened by the city and its es- sence as a potential area of scientific research. The deliberations commence with reflections on the city’s position within the discipline of economics. An analysis is conducted concerning issues related to urban allocation and its position in both a network and systemic context. Additionally, the chapter presents a two- -dimensional model of urban areas, emphasizing their spatial aspects. The second chapter focuses on the process of delimitation as a significant element of implemented transportation policy. It begins with a synthetic litera- ture review on the issue of suburbanization of urban areas and its impact on transportation policy. This review also encompasses the phenomenon of delimi- tation, examining the context in which this concept has appeared in previous scientific research. The chapter concludes with a review of transportation plans for the ten largest Polish cities and the largest metropolitan area in the country, namely the Metropolis GZM. These plans were analysed regarding the manner in which they addressed area delimitation – key delimitation factors were identi- fied, and the extent to which the delimitation process influenced the final shape of the transportation plan was synthetically described. In the final chapter, the focus was on examining area delimitation as a key factor influencing the compatibility of econometric models in polycentric- dispersed agglomerations. The Metropolis GZM was chosen as the research testing ground. The first subsection presents the methodology of the conducted analysis. Subsequently, the obtained results are discussed, with a focus on dif- ferences in the fit of econometric models depending on the method of delimita- tion. Additionally, praxeology is presented as a potential alternative to classical approaches based on quantitative models. The work is based on a query of English-language literature, transportation plans, and research findings conducted in the Metropolis GZM area. The mono- graph is aimed at individuals involved in urban transportation policy, urban planners, public administration bodies, urban logisticians, and all those interested in transportation policy issues.