Beyond urban and rural: exploring form, accessibility, and interconnectivity in global urban classifications

Sustainable development increasingly hinges on recognizing both the nuance of urban form and the interconnections linking settlements into systems. We compare three global geospatial approaches transcending the urban–rural dichotomy—Degree of Urbanization (DEGURBA), Urban–Rural Catchment Areas (URCA), and Multi-Tier City–Regions (MTCR)—and examine how they relate form, accessibility, and function at system scale. Highlighting the importance of peri-urban areas, small and intermediate cities, and multi-tier connectivity, these approaches challenge institutional structures organized around an urban–rural divide. We conclude by outlining four research frontiers.