This GIS study applies Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) to investigate the spatial relationship between Purchasing Power Index (PPI) and the distribution of gambling-related retail establishments within the city of Madrid. My aim is to account for spatially varying relationships driven by local urban contexts, under the assumption that the relationship between socioeconomic conditions and the presence of gambling venues varies across urban space. My hypothesis is that the socioeconomic conditions of the urban fabric can be a breeding ground for the location of betting shops, or in other words, I am attempting to Detect Urban Vulnerability to Gambling Harm.
Category Archives: urbanisimo
Testing GEMINI for 3D environments. From SketchUp to an unlikely future!
The exercise shows how a simple SketchUp 3D volume, defined solely by its basic geometry, can be transformed into a complex architectural proposal. Starting from the initial schematic model, the system interprets proportions, levels, and shapes, and converts them into a fully developed building, complete with textures, vegetation, lighting, and an urban context
Mapping Something Unthinkable: Flood Risk in Madrid using Open Data
Dont get wrong if you see the IA background showing our handsome major almost showing his beautiful smile in Cibeles/Correos it’s only to get your attentions (only if you need it thou!). Flooding in urban environments is not a speculative hazard but something we can quantify. In the case of Madrid, the intersection of pretty mountainous terrain (it might surprise you there are 2000m difference between the highest spot in Madrid province, Pico Peñalara -2428m- and the Alberche river environment in some areas -430m-) and urban expansion presents a scenario of significant risk, particularly when analyzed through the lens of shared high-resolution geospatial data. This study integrates the buildings from BTN (Base Topográfica Nacional) provided by the Spanish “IGN”, the CNIG with the official flood hazard maps for a 100-year return period (T=100), published by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO). The T=100 scenario is the most representative for evaluating long-term flood exposure, as it reflects events with a 1% annual probability—rare but not improbable, and certainly not negligible.
Spatial relationship between “high schools” and “betting shops” in Madrid. A first approach (1)
It is a fact that a betting shop should not be close to a secondary school. Its obvious the impact on population ranging 12-17 could be higher than in other. How near? 100m? 500m? Euclidean distance or following the street network?. In any case, if I choose for instance a range of 500m, for example, 81% of betting shops in Madrid have secondary schools within that distance (258 out of 316). Looking at it from the secondary schools’ point of view, almost 60% of secondary schools have betting shops within 500m (171/291). This is undoubtedly an issue that needs to be addressed.
Summer Heat Inequity in Madrid: A Playground-Based Analysis in Summer 2024
Between June 21 and September 21, 2024, I analyzed the surface temperatures of all 2,123 registered playgrounds in Madrid using Landsat 8/9 imagery (Level-2 Surface Temperature products). This investigation, an extension of my previous reflection on urban heat and environmental justice in Geovisualization.net (May 2025), highlights how thermal exposure is patterned by geography, planning legacies, and demographic vulnerability in the Spanish capital.
Urban delineation methods beyond administrative boundaries
As a geographer working with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), I am particularly interested in exploring urban delineation methods that move beyond the constraints of administrative boundaries. Instead of relying on official municipal limits—which can often be outdated or misaligned with functional realities on the ground—I focus on delineating urban areas based on physical indicators such as built-up surface, population density, and spatial continuity. This approach allows for a more accurate and dynamic understanding of urban space.
Urban Heat Islands, Trees, and Climate Justice in the Anthropocene: A Remote Sensing-Based Reflection
In recent years, the need to understand the urban environment has grown more urgent than ever. Climate change is not an abstract future scenario; it is already here, reshaping our cities day by day. Among the many phenomena that demand our attention, the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect stands out—not only for its environmental and public health impacts but also for its socio-political implications. Through satellite imagery and remote sensing, we can now visualize and quantify these dynamics with increasing precision. This post reflects on such an analysis I conducted using LANDSAT 8 imagery (Scene ID: LC08_L2SP_201032_20250328_20250401_02_T1, Date Acquired: 2025/03/28), and discusses the findings in the broader context of urban planning, climate justice, and the urgent need to protect urban vegetation.
CADALSO DE LOS VIDRIOS: MELANCOLÍA DE TIEMPOS MEJORES
Enclavado en un entorno rural de gran belleza natural (Latitud: 40° 18′ 3” Norte Longitud: 4° 26′ 37” Oeste) Cadalso de los Vidrios se enfrenta a una realidad económica marcada por la fragilidad y la dependencia. Con un tejido industrial prácticamente inexistente, el pueblo se sustenta principalmente en dos pilares: el ínfimo sector agrario y el sector de la construcción y los servicios. Esta dependencia económica limita las oportunidades de desarrollo y aumenta la vulnerabilidad frente a situaciones adversas, entre ellas, la explotación descontrolada de los recursos mineros y forestales.
The Remarkable Visibility of Almeria’s Greenhouses from Space
In the sphere of Earth observation and remote sensing, the Almeria greenhouses stand out as an astonishing spectacle visible even from the edge of space, defined by the Kármán line at approximately 100 kilometers in altitude. This unique visibility is not only a testament to the vast scale of human agricultural activity but also a captivating example of the power of satellite-based remote sensing technologies.
Digital Twin. Real-Time Public Transportation Visualization on LiveMaps360.com
The primary feature of LiveMaps360.com is its ability to display public transportation data in real-time. By integrating data from Tokyo’s extensive public transportation network, including buses, trains, and subways, the website enables users to track the movement of vehicles and access critical information such as arrival times, routes, and service disruptions.
Geovisualization.net 