Cartografía histórica urbana. El proceso de urbanización de Guayaquil. Siglos XV-XXI.

Abstract

This research was based on the historical study of the cartography of Guayaquil during the XV and XXI centuries, to find the stages of evolution of its urbanization process. This was achieved first, by compiling the cartography of the city through various2 sources, to systematize by chronological cards. Second, such cartography was analyzed by parameters that allowed a quantitative and qualitative description. And finally, the moments of urban evolution were found from the joint analysis of plans that ended in the results of the research. The methodology was mixed: quantitative and qualitative, with historical, descriptive, and documentary methods. There were three study techniques. The first was the collection of plans and bibliography through semi-structured interviews, field visits, digital repositories, and bibliographic review. The second technique was the processing and analysis of the cartography and bibliography. The processing was conducted by a matrix, data sheets, and digitizing of each map. And the analysis was conducted through comparative analysis, the contrast of the cartography found with the current city map, the contrast through the interview, and georeferencing. The last technique was that of information sampling, conducted by the files and the map library. The results obtained through the methodology were the obtaining of a new plan of Guayaquil from the 19th century; distinct types of findings such as: errors in the plans, distinction of all the plans of Guayaquil that showed urban growth plans, hypotheses created by inconsistencies and unknown plans, lost influence of the estuaries, and evolution of the city. These findings allowed finding new periods of the urban evolution of Guayaquil.