Urban sprawl containment by the urban growth boundary: the case of the Regulatory Plan of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago of <i>Chile</i>

Urban growth boundaries (UGBs) established by urban planning, are common containment strategies to prevent sprawl. We analyze the effectiveness of UGB strategy in case Metropolitan Region Santiago de Chile, land use plan 1994. describe and quantify annual rate development new built-up areas inside outside boundary using GIS. The results show that expansion is greater than (75% vs. 49%), with a higher (14.6% 2.8%). To achieve strategy, it necessary overcome those regulatory mechanisms allow urbanization beyond boundary, identified as factor promotes expansion, contradicting objective plan.