Urban sprawl in the regional settlement system: a case study of Belgorod and Stary Oskol-Gubkin metropolitan areas

Abstract

The paper defines factors and methods of studying spatial sprawl of Belgorod and Stary Oskol-Gubkin metropolitan areas. A differentiation of population dynamics in Belgorod regional settlement system is made. Built-up areas are found to occupy larger territories and display a higher development density, while the population size in metropolitan areas does not change significantly