A typology of metropolitan spatial structure: a systematic review

This study attempts to form a typology of metropolitan spatial structure. In order to achieve this goal, we reviewed the studies carried out in this field through a systematic review. The statistical population of this study consists of English-based scientific articles published in prestigious scientific journals from 1980 to 2019, which were obtained through a search in scientific information databases and by using keywords related to the metropolitan spatial structure. After searching for related studies and based on the relationship between the title, keywords, content, and citation, 175 articles were selected and carefully examined. The results show that the metropolitan spatial structures can be categorized into 4 main patterns of “convergent, divergent, homogenous, and heterogeneous” according to centripetal–centrifugal and concentrated–deconcentrated forces. In accordance with these patterns, 23 subpatterns were identified. This article provides a new typology for a deeper understanding of the metropolitan spatial structure and opens a new window for theorizing and presenting a useful guide for policy-makers and spatial planners in the debate of spatial patterns knowledge.