What are the main features of the concept of livability?

Answer from top 10 papers

Livability encompasses a broad range of factors that contribute to the quality of life in a given community or urban area. It is a multidimensional concept that includes aspects such as spatial planning, individual well-being, urban economy, connectivity and infrastructure, and the quality of the urban environment (Khorasani & Zarghamfard, 2017). Livability also involves the physical attributes of urban spaces, such as streetscapes, which can affect the sense of community, ownership, and migration rates (Hegazy, 2020; Mahanta & Borgohain, 2022). Furthermore, the concept is dynamic and can be influenced by socio-economic attributes, individual characteristics, and the interaction between residents and their urban environment (Baig et al., 2019).
Interestingly, while traffic management is often highlighted as a determinant of livable streets, physical features such as walkway paving, public services, and maintenance are also crucial (Hegazy, 2020). Additionally, the skills required to develop livable cities, such as collaboration, communication, and community engagement, are emphasized, underscoring the importance of 'soft skills' in urban planning and development (Hu & Hu, 2014).
In summary, livability is a complex and evolving concept that is influenced by a variety of spatial, physical, social, and economic factors. It is shaped by the interaction between the urban environment and its inhabitants, with a focus on enhancing the overall quality of life. The characteristics of livability are not static and can vary based on the specific context and needs of different communities (Baig et al., 2019; Mahanta & Borgohain, 2022; Mushtaha et al., 2020). Therefore, understanding and improving livability requires a comprehensive and adaptable approach that considers the diverse elements that contribute to a livable urban space.

Source Papers

Urban livability and contextual uncertainties: An assessment of livability through the lens of urban dwellers in Guwahati, India

The frenetic pace of urban growth in India has caused major concerns regarding the quality of urban livability. Thus, constructing livable cities has become a major goal for new urbanization in India. But urban livability as a behavioral function of the interaction between urban environment and individual characteristics is still understudied. Therefore, to enhance urban livability and construct people-oriented livable cities, this research study aimed to understand the perception of the residents of Guwahati, India, on urban livability and its determinants. Following the notion of uncertain geographic context problem (UGCoP), the current study developed an appropriate conceptual and methodological framework that evaluated the residents’ satisfaction with urban livability and the effect of its dimensions using statistical methods, which were exploratory factor analysis, structural equation modeling and Spearman’s rank correlation. The empirical results of the study indicate that residents’ mean satisfaction with the city’s livable condition is above dissatisfaction level (2.735) and the four examined dimensions have a positive influence upon residents’ satisfaction with urban livability. Additionally, different socio-economic attributes also exert significant effects on the overall satisfaction with urban livability. Therefore, this study is a practical example and model reference for enhancing urban livability in India, particularly for fast-growing cities.

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Open Access
Determining Factors Influencing Residents’ Satisfaction Regarding Urban Livability in Pakistan

Livability is an important and crucial aspect of urbanity which depicts quality of life. The emerging cities have a variety of urban challenges, including poor quality of life that has focused urban planners towards livability measures. Pakistani cities are facing similar challenges, like provision of adequate infrastructural facilities and amenities, due to which cities are losing their livability standards. Hyderabad, the second biggest city of Sindh Province, is an emerging metropolitan facing the same dilemma. The objective of this paper is to measure the livability as perceived by the residents. Six urban settlements were selected through stratified sampling to represent three income groups present in the study area, i.e. upper, middle and lower. Through systematic sampling, a sample size of 290 was procured for the household-based questionnaire survey, and descriptive statistics and multiple regression techniques were used. Results showed a significant relationship between perceived livability and livability attributes. The environmental attribute was found most significant in affecting livability perception of residents. The study also highlights eight livability variables which need to be considered for improving the quality of life in future urban development projects, not just in Pakistan, but also other developing countries.

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Open Access
An Integrated Approach for Developing an Urban Livability Composite Index—A Cities’ Ranking Road Map to Achieve Urban Sustainability

Livability is a concept that assesses the quality of life and relative performance of different regions and communities, based on various qualitative and quantitative factors. The assessment of urban livability is a complex and multidimensional task, which is of utmost importance for informed and transparent policy and decision making. The present study aimed to develop a road map for cities’ ranking on the bases of their livability. We have used a case study of eight major cities of Punjab, Pakistan. Indicators of cities’ sustainability considered for the cities’ ranking were spatial planning and growth, individual wellbeing, urban economy, connectivity and infrastructure, quality of life, and the urban environment. In the first stage, after the consolidation of socio-economic, environmental, and other indicators, they are converted into dimension indices by taking geometric means. In the second stage, the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) has been employed for assigning weights to each dimension into a composite index. The results of the study depict the disparities among cities through a multidimensional analysis. Lahore is ranked as first overall from the bottom. Thus, the study recommends that, despite the high standing of Lahore on the livability ladder, it must address the issue of connectivity and traffic congestion and per capita needs of the public infrastructure for a growing mega metropolitan city of over 10 million people. Similarly, Rawalpindi is ranked as the second-best city with regard to livability in Punjab. The main contributing factors for Rawalpindi city are ‘individual well-being’, ‘urban economy’, and ‘urban environment’. Moreover, the current study also suggests important policy implications for decision makers to highlight the areas that must be reconsidered for improvement in terms of the selected indicators and dimensions.

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Open Access
Application of AHP and a mathematical index to estimate livability in tourist districts: The case of Al Qasba in Sharjah

Urban planners must ensure that urban public spaces are enjoyable to use to create a lively city that expresses their culture and traditions and welcomes social diversity. This study aims to develop a theoretical index for assessing the livability levels in tourist districts. Therefore, a survey-based study accompanied by a literature review is used to derive criteria for livability. In addition to using the analytic hierarchy process to develop an importance-based hierarchy of criteria, mathematical analysis is applied to derive the livability index. Furthermore, one of Sharjah's well-known public spaces, Al Qasba Tourist District, is assessed as a case study. This study discussed the main concepts and factors of livability in urban public spaces to examine the livable extent of Qasba and the significance of criteria. Results show that the current livability level in Al Qasba is less than 50%, confirming its urgent need for further urban improvement. This study explores the livability assessment criteria and their influencing parameters. Using the suggested conceptual livability index enables decision makers to assess the livability level, analyze the influencing factors, and suggest solutions to improve the overall livability levels of open public spaces.

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Conceptual analysis of livable cities in the context of Ted Talks

Today, livable urban spaces are very important in terms of the healthy conduct of both individual and social life. Shaped in line with human needs such as education, housing, economy, cultural and social life, the city and the livability of the city is one of the current discussion topics with its variable and dynamic structure in addition to the factors it contains. From this point of view, the concept of "livability" has been questioned in the context of urban planning. Considering the temporal resilience of cities, the semantic dimension - qualitative studies - and therefore concepts are very powerful tools. Concepts are the basis of interpretation or theorizing. The aim of the study is to develop a different perspective by revealing the measurability of more livable and happier cities and the criteria they contain through discussions and discourses on this subject. In this context, the TED platform, which is easily accessible by large masses today and popular in terms of social awareness, has been used. The content of 65 texts focusing on urban research in TED Talks between 2007 and 2023 has been analyzed and a conceptual analysis has been made through NVivo, a qualitative analysis program. The content analysis method has been used in the evaluation of the texts, and discussions and interpretations have been made based on frequency frequencies. In light of the data obtained, it has been seen that more livable cities have been associated with the codes "architectural design", "technology", "energy" and "climate" respectively. As a result; it can be said that the concept of urban livability cannot be independent of the climate crisis, ecology discussions, and energy efficiency discourses as a solution to this crisis, and architectural designs that follow the technological level of the age, and the parameters discussed in the face of changing needs and situations over time can also change.

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Open Access
Developing livable cities: do we have what it takes?

ABSTRACT A popular and intuitive way to capture the quality of life in cities is by evaluating ‘livability.’ This study aims to gain insight on the types, importance, and availability of skills needed to develop livable cities, as perceived by researchers and practitioners. Participants in a separate concept mapping project were asked to provide a list of the skills they found most important to the development of livable cities. Responses were synthesized into broader categories. Survey respondents most referenced Collaboration, Communication, and Community Engagement. In a second phase, respondents were asked to select those that they felt were most important. Collaboration and Community Engagement were the two most frequently selected skills in the second phase. Results were compared against competency requirements for program accreditation in the fields of Public Health, Urban Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Parks and Recreation Administration. All are vital partners in livable city development. Further trends, similarities, and differences are discussed. This study underscores the enduring need for ‘soft skills,’ non-traditional approaches to education and workforce development, and the increasing relevance of team science. Understanding the skills needed for livable city development helps ensure researchers and practitioners are equipped to participate.

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