Introduction

Latin America and the Caribbean’s (LAC) current urbanisation level is almost 80%, and the continent is experiencing a decelerating rate of urban population growth (UN 2012). This growth is becoming concentrated in cities of less than one million dwellers, where most of the urban population in Latin America and the Caribbean currently lives (UN-HABITAT 2012). Despite this slowdown, the built-up area of most cities continues to expand at rates that can be two or three times more than the rate of population increase (UN-HABITAT 2012). New urban development occurs horizontally (peripheral expansion) and/or “vertically” (often up slopes). According to Seto, Güneralp, and Hutyra (2012), forecasts of urban expansion in South America, based on the highest probability, show an increase of 67% between 2000 and 2030.