Urban Vitality Research Articles

GWPCA-based spatial analysis of urban vitality: a comparative assessment of three high-altitude Himalayan towns in India

ABSTRACT Urban vitality comprises the livingness, vibrancy and attractiveness of urban areas. This research analyzes urban vitality in three Himalayan towns in India: Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong. Using the GWPCA method, 29 indicators across six domains were considered to develop a comprehensive urban vitality index (UVI). The study also explores how urban growth and design influence vitality in these towns. With the help of LISA and Moran’s I analyses, the research determines that town centers display high vitality. The findings highlight the role of expansion patterns and European-style blocks in maintaining this vibrancy.

A spatial projection pursuit model for identifying comprehensive urban vitality on blocks using multisource geospatial data

The vitality of city blocks is a crucial indicator of urban development, influenced by human activity, the built environment, and their interconnections. Urban vitality often exhibits agglomeration effects, whereas blocks nearby tend to exhibit similar vitality values. However, existing evaluation methods struggle to effectively account for the spatial correlations among block vitality while simultaneously assessing comprehensive vitality from multiple perspectives. Using Chongqing as a study case, we use multisource geospatial big data to explore the spatial pattern of city block vitality by using a multiobjective optimization spatial projection pursuit model (MOO-SPP). Five dimensions of vitality were conducted and projected into a comprehensive vitality. The results show that (1) the city proper of Chongqing exhibited a "multicenter and multigroup" vitality pattern in terms of comprehensive vitality, and new areas foster several peaks of urban vitality; (2) the spatial distribution of the single-dimensional vitality varies, and enhancing transportation accessibility in the new areas is of utmost importance; (3) there are spatial variation in urban vitality among the districts and blocks, which are influenced by urban form and city polices. This study can provide insights to stakeholders in better understanding the spatial patterns and factors influencing multidimensional block vitality.

Multi-level research of living space with sensors and actuators technology in the Historic Centre of Macao from the perspective of space syntax

Taking the living space of the Historic Centre of Macao as an example, by field measurement of the midweek and weekend data of people and traffic flow in major blocks with remote sensors technology, this paper comprehensively analyzes the association and impact of multi-level spatial networks on the urban vitality of historic blocks, evaluate and verify the close correlation and goodness of fit between the analysis of spatial syntax and the field test data. This paper selects three levels: metropolitan level, block level and neighborhood level, and uses information sensors to conduct correlation analysis on the number of standardized stores and spatial syntactic parameters for the living space in the Historic Centre of Macao, verifying the role and effect of integration and through a degree in analyzing multi-level spatial time and space. In the subsequent development of the Historic Centre, the service sector with a small radius should be protected and renewed, and the guidelines and orientation for street renewal and revitalization should also be enhanced with the help of information actuators.

Multidimensional Spatial Driving Factors of Urban Vitality Evolution at the Subdistrict Scale of Changsha City, China, Based on the Time Series of Human Activities

Urban vitality is an important reflection of a city’s development potential and urban quality. This study used exploratory spatio-temporal big data such as social media check-ins to portray the spatio-temporal evolution of urban vitality at the subdistrict scale in Changsha, a city in central China, from 2013 to 2021, finding that urban vitality in Changsha exhibited central agglomeration and outward circling expansion over time, and then we used Geodetector and spatial regression analyses to explain the interactive effects and spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the spatial elements of subdistrict form, subdistrict function, and subdistrict economy on urban vitality. The results show the following: (1) The subdistrict form and subdistrict function dimensions had a significant effect on urban vitality, and the effect of the economic dimension of the subdistrict was not significant. (2) The interaction effect of the density of entertainment and leisure facilities and the density of business office facilities in subdistrict function was the dominant factor in the change of urban vitality. (3) Under the spatio-temporal effect, land use diversity and park facility density had the strongest positive effect on urban vitality; road density and shopping facility density had the weakest effect. The study aimed to provide a reference for the optimization and allocation of spatial elements of subdistricts in sustainable urban development and urban renewal, in order to achieve the purpose of urban vitality creation and enhancement.

Unveiling the potential of space syntax approach for revitalizing historic urban areas: A case study of Yushan Historic District, China

Historic urban areas are a crucial component of urban heritage, embodying the collective memory of urban development and possessing distinctive urban textures and cultural attributes. However, the growing impact of globalization on the urban environment poses challenges to historic urban areas, including diminishing social recognition, aging infrastructure, loss of vitality, and cultural erosion. To address these challenges, this study proposes a novel approach to revitalizing historic urban areas by employing space syntax methodology. The study focuses on Yushan Historic District in China as a case study and uses spatial models within space syntax to describe, analyze, and interpret its urban morphology. The objective is to enhance urban vitality while preserving the heritage fabric of historic urban areas. Additionally, it aims to contribute to the advancement of space syntax research, specifically in the context of urban renewal and revitalization of historic districts. The findings reveal the spatial factors that contribute to the generation of vitality within the district, identify areas requiring intervention, and provide strategies for revitalizing historic urban areas. This study demonstrates the potential of utilizing a space syntax approach in urban revitalization, providing valuable guidance for effectively conserving urban heritage within the context of urban renewal.

Research on Urban Sustainability Indicators Based on Urban Grain: A Case Study in Jinan, China

As a concept to describe the characteristics of urban spatial forms, urban grain emphasizes the size of urban parcels. Fine grain and coarse grain are considered essential attributes. Fine grain plays a crucial role in promoting the adaptability of urban development, improving urban vitality, and helping achieve sustainable urban development. Current research on urban grain is scattered and difficult to apply to solve practical urban problems. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the spatial indicators that affect the urban grain, to solve urban problems by adjusting spatial indicators. It contains significant suggestions for improving urban design theory and promoting sustainable urban development. This study primarily uses the comparative method to identify spatial indicators influencing urban grain by comparing coarse- and fine-grain study areas. This study screens relevant spatial indicators (building density, road network density, age of housing structures, building façade width along streets, number of entrances and exits along streets, and function mixture) affecting urban grain through a review and measurements, and it visualizes the representation of spatial indicators using the grid method, determining the correlation between spatial indicators and urban grain. The results show that all six indicators have an impact on urban grain.

Urban Vitality Conditions and Neighborhood Satisfaction in a Latin American City: The Case of Santiago de Chile

Urban vitality and neighborhood satisfaction are areas of great interest within the field of urban studies, as a measure of the attractiveness of a city and as an evaluation that residents make of their living environments. Using survey and geospatial data from the Longitudinal Social Study of Chile (2019) and the JANE Index (2021), this study performs regression analysis to examine the relationship between urban vitality and neighborhood satisfaction. Through a set of variables that evaluate the neighborhood such as safety, connectivity, green and recreational areas, cleanliness and beauty, proximity to the main activity, and proximity to commercial areas, we analyze the relationship with six conditions for urban vitality. These conditions are features objectively measured from the built environment, which provide information about concentration of people and buildings, diversity in land use, contact opportunity provided by the urban fabric, presence of old buildings, accessibility to the public transport, and the distance to large infrastructures that act as border vacuums for people. The results show that most conditions for urban vitality are significant predictors of neighborhood satisfaction. Not all components of urban vitality, however, are positively associated with higher neighborhood satisfaction, as attributes such as concentration and satisfaction with green and recreational areas in the neighborhood are in fact negatively correlated. Conclusions show the importance of including subjective factors in projects meant to transform the built environment in search of increased vitality.

Deep exploration of street view features for identifying urban vitality: A case study of Qingdao city

Deep exploration of street view features for identifying urban vitality: A case study of Qingdao city

Evaluation of Urban Commercial Land Use Intensification Based on Land Parcels: Taking Wuxi City as an Example

Intensive land use assessment is a key research topic in urban land use, and most of the existing studies focus on macro-level assessment. There is a lack of research on the micro-level assessment of intensive urban land use, especially at the parcel level. The objective of this research is to propose a method for the parcel-based evaluation of urban commercial land intensification. The study uses a multidimensional evaluation framework and index system, comprehensive evaluation, and spatially exploratory analysis of urban commercial intensive land use based on “building intensity, use efficiency, compatibility, and diversity”. The study finds that (1) the average value of intensive use of urban commercial land is 13.01, the standard deviation is 5.11, and the median value is 13, which generally indicate a medium level. (2) The degree of intensive use of commercial land has obvious characteristics of a high, medium, and low level. The study shows that when evaluating the degree of land use intensification at the parcel level, it is also necessary to consider the influence of the compatibility and diversity of external land use. The research results can provide a basis for spatial planning and the optimal design of urban land resources to improve urban vitality.

Effect of Relocating Street Hawkers on Urban Vitality in the Malioboro Tourism Area, Yogyakarta

Since the 1970s, street hawkers have considered Malioboro an icon of the city of Yogyakarta. Malioboro has become increasingly crowded. Seeing this condition, a decision was made to relocate the street hawkers from the Malioboro corridor. This decision has pros and cons; some consider street hawkers to be a place for creativity, a sector that greatly affects the level of crowds and is the main attraction for the Malioboro area. However, few people consider it a barrier to the original face of the Malioboro corridor. Urban vitality is an important aspect of increasing visitor interest; it relates to comfort, security, safety, and fun as the main indicators. This study aims to examine the impact of the relocation decision on the vitality of Malioboro as a tourist area. Using qualitative methods, this study compared the reality through field surveys and online questionnaires that had been distributed for one week to a total of 61 respondents who had ever visited Malioboro with the theory of urban vitality and urban tourism precincts. To get a conclusion on whether the Yogyakarta city government’s decision to relocate the street hawkers from Malioboro Street can maintain or even reduce Malioboro’s urban vitality.

EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GREEN VIEW INDEX AND RUNNING ACTIVITY: A CASE STUDY OF YOGYAKARTA AND SINGAPORE USING STRAVA AND GOOGLE STREET VIEW DATA

EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GREEN VIEW INDEX AND RUNNING ACTIVITY: A CASE STUDY OF YOGYAKARTA AND SINGAPORE USING STRAVA AND GOOGLE STREET VIEW DATA

Spatial nonlinear effects of urban vitality under the constraints of development intensity and functional diversity

Urban vitality is the comprehensive characterization of the activities and processes in the city, which is influenced not only by environmental factors but also by the vitality of surrounding areas. Thus, the spatial effect of urban vitality can be understood under the constraint of the built environment. Taking Xiamen Island as a case, multisource big data are used to measure urban vitality, development intensity, and functional diversity. Spatial weight matrices with different distances are constructed. Through the spatial autoregressive threshold model, the threshold values of development intensity and functional diversity are estimated, and the spatial nonlinear effects of urban vitality based on different spatial weight matrices are analyzed. Results show that: (1) There is a significant spatial spillover effect of urban vitality. The spatial spillover effect is influenced by the built environment conditions and shows the characteristics of nonlinear growth with the change in development intensity and functional diversity; (2) the spatial spillover effect of urban vitality is significantly enhanced with the expansion of influence distance; (3) The development intensity has double thresholds. With the improvement of development intensity, the spatial spillover effect of urban vitality becomes stronger and more significant. The functional diversity has a significant single threshold value. The discussion of functional diversity should be carried out on the premise of density. The conclusion provides a theoretical basis for the optimization of urban vitality and built environment.

Placemaking in the Design of Knowledge‑Based Urban Developments

In this paper, we review the concept of science parks and their culmination as knowledge-based urban developments (KBUDs). Next, we describe the upgrading of second-generation science parks in urban fringes to knowledge territories based on the quintuple helix innovation model. This research aims to study planning and design tools that can be used to foster serendipity, vitality and high-quality living environments in otherwise sterile landscapes from a human point of view, as is generally the case in second-generation science parks. In this context, we discuss how city information modelling (CIM) capabilities can be extended with three placemaking aspects that are important to this type of development: social negotiation, urban vitality and legibility. Finally, we present the International Hub for Sustainable Development (HIDS), which is currently being planned in Campinas, Brazil, and some examples of the use of CIM in this project. We conclude that CIM can be used to increase public engagement in participatory processes by facilitating communication between stakeholders. In addition, it improves data collection in these processes and supports decision‑making.

Co-production as a strategy for enhanced equal representation in public service delivery: The case of Rotterdam

Co-production, in its various forms, may add to urban vitality by giving shape to relationships between governmental institutions and local communities, providing spaces for citizens and active groups of residents to co-produce public services. Although various authors have argued that co-production may empower citizens and lead to enhanced equality in public service delivery (Jo & Nabatchi, 2018; Meijer, 2016; Needham, 2008), empirical evidence to support such claims remains relatively slim. This article aims to evaluate to what extent co-production enables local government to include a representative part of the population, and if this leads to enhanced inclusiveness. We build on both quantitative and qualitative data of citizens participating in co-production instruments implemented by the Municipality of Rotterdam. Whether or not co-production by default leads to urban vitality should be questioned, as the inclusiveness of various groups of citizens participating within co-production instruments is limited.Our findings show that citizens with a higher socioeconomic status (SES), especially in terms of education, take up a much larger part of the participants in the different instruments than citizens with a lower SES. Our qualitative data analysis goes deeper into social and cultural capital, institutional knowledge, skills and personal resources as explanatory conditions for who is included in participation. More research is needed on non-participants, and their reasons for not participating in co-production.

Exploring the Correlation between Streetscape and Economic Vitality Using Machine Learning: A Case Study in the Old Urban District of Xuzhou, China

The streetscapes of old urban districts record the changes in urban space and the vitality of socio-economic entities like storefronts. However, prior studies of urban vitality have preferred the demand end of crowd agglomeration to the supply end of commercial businesses, while the refined application of street-view images (SVIs) and the spatial heterogeneity resulting from sectional differences among elements deserve further research. Under this context, this paper took both the alive and the closed storefronts as the objects and developed an analytical framework based on machine learning and SVIs to analyze the characteristics of the streetscape and the economic vitality, followed by a regression analysis between them with a multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model. Our findings comprise three aspects: (1) despite the sum of the storefronts being more often used, combining the alive and the closed businesses is beneficial to reflect the real economic vitality; (2) as a reflection of the spatial heterogeneity and sectional differences of elements, the asymmetric streetscape has a significant influence on the economic vitality; and (3) although different factors from the streetscape can influence economic vitality differently, based on varied proxies of the vitality, three factors, namely, higher difference value of the signboards, higher sum of glass interfaces, and lower difference value of the glass interfaces, can benefit the economic vitality. This research can support urban physical examination and the regeneration of old urban districts for urban planners, designers, and decision-makers, and provide new perspectives and proxies as well as a more fine-grained analysis among the traditional studies on economic vitality.

Urban vitality assessment at the neighborhood scale with geo-data: A review toward implementation

Urban vitality assessment at the neighborhood scale with geo-data: A review toward implementation

Study on Urban Renewal Strategy of Chengdu

The construction of our country is in the transition period from incremental to stock. Urban renewal is an important strategy to reshape urban image and increase urban vitality. Chengdu is not only an important central city in the western region, but also a top ten ancient capital and a famous historical and cultural city in China. This paper begins with the background of the urban renewal of MengZhui Wan in the center of Chengdu, and then writes the background of the urban renewal of China, then from the general situation, geographical location, living conditions to write the situation of MengZhuiWan Area. And then from the “EPC + O” model of urban renewal, optimization of functional layout, restructuring the urban structure, updating the business function, inject new vitality of production capacity, create multi-functional space, revival of Tianfu culture four aspects of the MengZhuiWan Area in detail to carry out the renewal strategy, the final summary of the full text.

Quantifying the Spatial Ratio of Streets in Beijing Based on Street-View Images

The physical presence of a street, called the “street view”, is a medium through which people perceive the urban form. A street’s spatial ratio is the main feature of the street view, and its measurement and quality are the core issues in the field of urban design. The traditional method of studying urban aspect ratios is manual on-site observation, which is inefficient, incomplete and inaccurate, making it difficult to reveal overall patterns and influencing factors. Street view images (SVI) provide large-scale urban data that, combined with deep learning algorithms, allow for studying street spatial ratios from a broader space-time perspective. This approach can reveal an urban forms’ aesthetics, spatial quality, and evolution process. However, current streetscape research mainly focuses on the creation and maintenance of spatial data infrastructure, street greening, street safety, urban vitality, etc. In this study, quantitative research of the Beijing street spatial ratio was carried out using street view images, a convolution neural network algorithm, and the classical street spatial ratio theory of urban morphology. Using the DenseNet model, the quantitative measurement of Beijing’s urban street location, street aspect ratio, and the street symmetry was realized. According to the model identification results, the law of the gradual transition of the street spatial ratio was depicted (from the open and balanced type to the canyon type and from the historical to the modern). Changes in the streets’ spatiotemporal characteristics in the central area of Beijing were revealed. Based on this, the clustering and distribution phenomena of four street aspect ratio types in Beijing are discussed and the relationship between the street aspect ratio type and symmetry is summarized, selecting a typical lot for empirical research. The classical theory of street spatial proportion has limitations under the conditions of high-density development in modern cities, and the traditional urban morphology theory, combined with new technical methods such as streetscape images and deep learning algorithms, can provide new ideas for the study of urban space morphology.

The comment trial and comparison of urban vitality based on POI data: A case study of Shenzhen

Urban vitality is defined as the zing of cities providing citizens with the ability to live, and it is important to offer an essential basis for estimating urban growth and spatial balance. Shenzhens rapid development has made remarkable achievements in a brief period of forty years as a special economic zone since reform and openness. This study takes Shenzhen as an example, uses 21 POI data obtained from Baidu Maps, and discusses the relationship between urban vitality and time and space and the influence factors of urban vitality. Results show that urban vitality has a close relationship with time and space and high-vitality areas are judged based on the production activities of urban people. Besides, amusement activities do not have a clear influence on urban vitality. Furthermore, convenient transportation and ordered life-supporting services play a stressful role in pushing urban vitality. Based on the above three elements, it is necessary to pay attention to taking production activities, creating convenient transportation, and providing ordered life-supporting services to increase a citys urban vitality.

The Impacts of Popular Participation in the Urban Landscape: A Case Study in Lorena, SP.

Despite being an intrinsic factor in people's daily lives, active mobility still presents itself as a challenge in the model of Brazilian cities due to the lack of adequate and inviting structure for walking. This case study was carried out in a city located in the countryside of the State of São Paulo, with the purpose of enabling a higher quality in walking, reinforcing walkability and the importance of more sustainable modes of transportation, fostering urban vitality and reactivating neglected areas by promoting a network articulation to develop sustainable initiatives. In this way, it seeks to highlight the importance of popular participation in the construction and requalification of urban public spaces, not only in terms of displacement, but also in the occupation of idle spaces through the use of methods and tools, such as tactical urbanism, which proposes interventions in the city in the context of the micro scale, from short-term solutions, low cost and multipliable. The study presents the challenges and the results of the project, arising from the collection and systematization of data, and from the collective construction and continuous appropriation of space by the population.