Spatial data mining for clustering: An application to the florentine metropolitan area using redcap

The paper presents an original application of the recently proposed Red- Cap method of spatial clustering and regionalization on the FlorentineMetropolitan Area (FMA). Demographic indicators are used as the input of a spatial clustering and regionalization model in order to classify the FMA's municipalities into a number of demographically homogeneous as well as spatially contiguous zones. In the context of a gradual decentralization of governance activities we believe the FMA is a representative case of study and that the individuation of new spatial areas built considering both the demographic characteristics of the resident population and the spatial dimension of the territory where this population insists could become a useful tool for local governance. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.