Hierarchical levels of medium-size cities in Minas Gerais

Abstract

Since the end of the 1970’s three classifications of mediumsizedcities in Minas Gerais were developed by Amorim Filhoand associates. The first of these classifications is the resultfrom research and the treatment of geographic informationcarried out mainly at Instituto de Geociências da UFMG,between 1974 and 1981, and published in 1982. MariaElizabeth Taitson Bueno (Cartography) and João Francisco deAbreu (quantification) also took part in this pioneer research.Between 1997 and 1999, Amorim Filho and Abreu producedat PUC Minas the second classification of medium-sized citiesin Minas Gerais, this time in connection with the technopolitanpotential of this group of cities. Finally, in 2006, Amorim Filho,Rigotti and Campos developed the last of these classifications,at PUC Minas again. The present work aims at bringing fortha reflection on the theoretical and methodological basis usedin these three classifications and on their main results.

Keywords

• cidades médias
• Minas Gerais
• classificações hierárquicas
• medium-size cities
• Minas Gerais
• hierarchies