Recent transformations in the settlements of the Alt Empordà plain. An example of new urban dynamics of Catalonia

This article addresses the complex territorial dynamics recently developed in the Alt Empordà County, which imply settlements transformation and the emergence of new urban forms. Therefore, after a theorization based on the abundant existing literature, both local and international, some results are presented. They have been obtained through the empirical analysis based on a typology of settlements and its application on the territory by means of GIS. Afterwards, the article examines the transformation dynamics which have an influence on the different types of settlements, which in some cases end up in the emergence of new urban such as the recent low density developments built at the edge of pre-existing urban settlements.