Detecting Serbia’s Settlement Patterns: A Fuzzy Logic-Based Approach to Rural–Urban Area Delimitation for Spatial Planning

Over the past decades, numerous studies have attempted to capture the heterogeneity of rural areas from different perspectives. Meanwhile, rural areas have undergone various changes, primarily due to urban pressure. Rejecting a dichotomous approach, the majority of studies focus exclusively on the analysis of either rural or urban areas, attempting to demonstrate their diversity and propose a method for their delimitation. This study maps rural and urban areas in Serbia. We present an approach for rural–urban area delimitation that integrates a comprehensive, multidimensional approach based on fuzzy logic. Conducted on a settlement level, this applied approach highly recognizes different settlement types ranging from rural to urban. Based on selected variables and employing a fuzzy inference system, we extract different distinctive settlement features varying from urban (0) to rural (1). The results demonstrate the nuanced classification of settlements varying from completely rural to urban. In addition, such an approach detects settlements that have functional significance in the settlement system. Therefore, it is possible to identify different forms of rural and urban areas (from the rural periphery to metropolitan areas). This method offers a framework that could be used in urban and spatial research and planning and defining rural/urban development strategies and policies. This study provides valuable insights into prioritized areas for planning strategies and support toward mitigating village loss and improving urban and rural sustainability. Our findings can contribute to future functional settlement zoning in Serbia, or the monitoring of planning decisions on different territorial levels.