Fire prevention requires a specific treatment subject to the innate characteristics of a territory and to the social interaction that takes place there. The present article deals with very different fire behaviors in two neighboring environments, in which unequal ignitory patterns have been identified. The analyzed environments constitute two prototypes of Mediterranean landscape in the region of Catalonia (Spain). The periurban-fire pattern is identified with the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona. The rural-fire pattern is observed in the county of Bages, with a far more sparse population structure. Sample observations were drawn from databases containing a compilation of ignitions occurring in these two environments during the period from 1987 to 1998. Analysis shows that the distribution of ignitions in the more urban areas is much more concentrated, whereas ignitions in rural areas are far more dispersed, and therefore more difficult to detect. The importance of the present article lies in the identification of the factors determining the patterns of development of ignitions in two very different territories, affected by diverse external pressures. Finally, guidelines for preventive policies adapted to these situations are given, taking into account the specific and differentiated characteristics relevant to each case.

This article investigates the urban and economic revitalisation of a traditional industrial working-class neighbourhood into a knowledge-based economic district. It explores why and how this new district is the result of an assertive public policy led by Barcelona's city council and implemented by a quasi-public agency. The project represents the most important urban-growth strategy in the city at the turn of the century and also exemplifies the advantages and shortcomings of many of the policy elements that have contributed to the radical transformation of Barcelona in recent decades. The article further highlights methodological challenges regarding the conceptualisation and operationalisation of new economic activities and it discusses the spatial and uncertain economic consequences of this ambitious approach by the local government.

This paper examines Ildefons Cerdà’s 1860 Plan for the Urban Expansion of Barcelona; specifically, how and why it was conceived in a unique way, in which the provision of services to the population was an important part. Cerdà based his expansion proposal on an in‑depth socio-statistical study of old Barcelona’s population conditions. The high mortality rates of the working‑class population and poor health and education conditions pushed Cerdà to design a new type of urban planning, which he defined as “urbanism”. In his proposal for the new city, he planned the location of services such as marketplaces, schools and hospitals. The first part of this paper introduces the urban and political preconditions of Barcelona and the statistics on which Cerdà based his contribution. The second part uses location theory and a geographic information system (GIS) to analyse the pattern of location and the population served by markets and hospitals. In addition, topographic maps from 1926 and 1975 are used to study the development of the expansion up to when it was fully developed. The evolution of the city differed from Cerdà’s proposal, partly due to unexpected increases in population density, the built environment, and higher amounts of building occupation. Nevertheless, Cerdà’s layout of streets and avenues has prevailed