Methodology of city analysis for evaluating compactness using GIS

Abstract

A method to evaluate convenience for daily life focusing on proximity and accessibility is proposed. First, a set of indicators related to convenience for daily life was developed, and comprehensive evaluation on physical environments of a city was conducted by utilizing GIS, statistical, and other surveyed data. Then, a proposed evaluation procedure with a weighting method using the age categories of residents was applied to clarify the areas that could attain high convenience. Additionally, the change of convenience associated with the change in future demographic characteristics was examined based on the estimated population and demographic characteristics in 2040. Potential "cores" were identified that can efficiently enhance the force of centralization needed for realization of a compact city. It was also suggested that the evaluation method developed in this research can be used as a tool to address and realize sustainability in cities. © 2014, The Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA), Hong Kong.