Capturing spatial inequalities: an analysis of walkable access to open spaces in Lima.

Social inequity is a global problem that often acutely materialises in cities, where people with lower incomes have reduced access to open spaces. This article examines how walkable access to open spaces mediated by urban morphology and topography differs for people with contrasting income profiles. Taking Lima as a case study, the spatial analysis adapted GIS tools to consider the steep slopes of informal settlements. The combined mapping and measuring of open space catchments and urban fabric permeabilities shows significant spatial inequities between low- and high-income residents that could not have been captured through traditional spatial analytical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]