Operationalizing Social–Ecological Systems Dynamics Through Spatial Metrics for Urban Waste Space Transformation in İzmir, Türkiye

Unused, underutilized, abandoned, and residual urban spaces are increasingly recognized as potential resources for adaptive reuse, ecological improvement, and urban resilience. In this study, such areas are approached through the overarching concept of waste space, a term that captures both their underutilized condition and their transformation potential. While existing research has largely focused on the definition, classification, and emergence of such spaces, their potential for transformation across varying spatial and institutional contexts has received comparatively limited attention. Addressing this gap, this study operationalizes selected social–ecological system (SES) dynamics through spatial analysis in the metropolitan area of İzmir, Türkiye, offering a proxy-based assessment of transformation capacity rather than a direct transformation. Using district-level analysis across ten metropolitan districts, this research combines typological and morphological classification of waste spaces with four spatial indicators: the Density Index, Location Quotient, Shannon Diversity Index, and Typology Dominance Index. The results show that waste spaces are unevenly distributed across İzmir and form distinct district-level configurations shaped by infrastructure expansion, post-industrial transformation, speculative vacancy, and fragmented urban growth. This study concludes that waste spaces cannot be addressed through a uniform regeneration logic. By linking SES dynamics with measurable spatial indicators, the proposed framework offers a context-sensitive, proxy-based basis for indicating transformation capacity of waste spaces and supporting district-specific planning and policy decisions.