Dynamic asymptotic dimension: relation to dynamics, topology, coarse geometry, and $$C^*$$-algebras

We introduce dynamic asymptotic dimension, a notion of dimension for actions of discrete groups on locally compact spaces, and more generally for locally compact etale groupoids. We study our notion for minimal actions of the integer group, its relation with conditions used by Bartels, Luck, and Reich in the context of controlled topology, and its connections with Gromov’s theory of asymptotic dimension. We also show that dynamic asymptotic dimension gives bounds on the nuclear dimension of Winter and Zacharias for \(C^*\)-algebras associated to dynamical systems. Dynamic asymptotic dimension also has implications for K-theory and manifold topology: these will be drawn out in subsequent work.