Zonificación geoespacial para determinar la capacidad de acogida de la ciudad de Vinces, Ecuador

Using an integrated Geographic Information Systems approach, this study assessed the land suitability for urban development in Vinces, Ecuador, at a 1:5,000 scale. An area of 55.04 km² was analyzed, considering variables such as geomorphology, slope, soil type, vegetation cover, and natural hazards (flooding). The methodology combined desk analysis with field validation, including soil sampling and application of the Kappa coefficient to verify cartographic accuracy. The results identified that 49.58% of the area has low suitability, associated with geotechnical limitations, shallow water tables, and moderate flood risk. Only 12.79% of the territory showed optimal conditions, while slopes greater than 25% restrict construction. The generated zoning map reveals that current urban expansion in Vinces has encroached on vulnerable areas, highlighting the need to incorporate these biophysical criteria into the Development and Land Use Plan.