Beyond administrative boundaries: implications of the uncertain geographic context problem for neighborhood research and policy

Le résumé fourni par la source

Abstract The debate over administrative and experiential definitions of neighborhood boundaries has been a longstanding concern in urban geography and planning. While a substantial body of empirical work has examined administrative, behavioral, and perceptual representations of neighborhoods, these approaches have often been studied separately, limiting understanding of how they differ and relate to one another, particularly among underrepresented groups such as young adults. This study examines how administrative boundaries diverge from individuals’ perceived neighborhoods and activity spaces, based on spatial behavior data from 231 young adults in the Sinchon area of Seoul, South Korea. Results show that administratively defined neighborhoods average about 2.8 km², while perceived neighborhoods average 1.7 km², and activity-based neighborhoods remain below 1.0 km², indicating systematic overestimation by administrative units. These discrepancies are significantly associated with sociodemographic characteristics such as income level, housing type, and student status. The findings suggest the presence of the Uncertain Geographic Context Problem (UGCoP), whereby failure to account for how individuals perceive and interact with space can lead to mismatches between the provision of public services and actual spatial demand. To mitigate this limitation, urban planning practice should incorporate behaviorally relevant spatial data to better align policy interventions with actual spatial behaviors and service demands.

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