Population growth in developing countries has resulted in cities with dynamic urbanization that surpasses the traditional boundaries and reaches the periphery areas (Dupont, 2005), leading to a physical, morphological, sociodemographic, cultural, economic and functional transformation in these city sectors (Geneletti et al., 2017).These processes have led urban researchers to redefine periurbanization, which traditionally refers to the transformation processes of rural areas located beyond urban boundaries.However, new transformations and dynamics imply novel concepts of urban periphery (Harris & Vorms, 2017).The first studies on peri-urbanization emerged in Europe, where urban areas started to annex the population centres located in their surroundings as the land market made more central locations more expensive.In these new sectors, single-family and tourist housing, the so-called second homes, can be developed (Entrena Durán, 2005).Studies on peri-urbanization in North America, especially those focusing on the United States, have identified the implementation of transport infrastructure networks, such as interstate highways, that contribute to reduce the population of large urban centres and promote linear commercial development (Baum Snow, 2007).During the 1980s, most developing countries centralized their economic and administrative services, which contributed to cities becoming centres that attract rural migration.These new settlers chose to establish in emerging areas located in the periphery of cities because of their low income and the transformations occurring in the land market (Ávila Sánchez, 2001) (Mansilla, 2018).Henceforth, informal urbanization has occurred, extending beyond the traditional city limits, and thus demanding large resources and presenting high vulnerability to different types of risks (Ravetz et al., 2013).