Abstract
This study investigates the potential of the spatial configuration of the city of Recife (Brazil), discussing the extent to which the configurational properties of street network correlate with arterial roads defined by the road hierarchy of the new Urban Land Use and Subdivision Law (Law No. 19,426/25). Using Spatial Syntax and the NAIN, NACH, and INCH measures, the study combines computer modelling techniques in a GIS environment with data from OpenStreetMap to assess the potential for movement, crossing, and accessibility of the urban grid proposed in the law. The results indicate that the NACH measure showed the greatest overlap with arterial roads (70.32%), highlighting its proximity to the functional hierarchy and its role as a configurational indicator of urban crossing. The NAIN and INCH measures revealed complementary patterns, highlighting both the central core of integration and intermediate axes of connectivity. It is concluded that Spatial Syntax is a robust analytical tool that complements the geometric and functional criteria of road planning, allowing for a more accurate understanding of the coherence between urban form and mobility. The study contributes to the improvement of the hierarchical definition of roads and reinforces the potential of the configurational approach in evidence-based urban mobility planning.
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