The rural urban continuum : towards a new spatial policy, the case of North Lebanon

Abstract

The Rural Urban Continuum has no clear boundary, both geographically and conceptually. The following research provides a methodology for properly defining the Rural Urban Continuum (RUC). The approach was applied to Northern Lebanon. The research also seeks to identify the typology of the villages found in the RUC surrounding the city of Tripoli. Four types of clusters were identified. Two of which fall under the urban model while the other two are considered a ruralopolis. The methodology used in this research the potential to be applied to other parts of Lebanon. If applied properly it will help understand the RUC in Lebanon and develop spatial policies that take into consideration spatial variations.