Decision Tools to Analyse immigrant Territorial Distribution

Abstract

The main purpose of this study consists in the development of a set of mathematical tools - based on decision tree methodologies - that allows the systematised approach to the spatial immigrant population distribution in metropolitan areas. The case study reported is applied to Porto city (Portugal), and analyses the spatial distribution of immigrant dwellings (according to their country of origin), as well as the distribution of work places considering immigrant dwelling locations. The developed tools, as well as their cartographic interface, also developed in this research study, are particularly important in demographic and population studies, because they allow the cross-sectional characterization of defnite population groups, as well as the anticipation of probable dwelling and work location behaviours. They are also relevant in the defnition of immigrants policies, namely in relation to employment and habitation, and in the monitoring of their respective evolution processes.