Spatial distribution of social benefit given by urban attractions: A test of UrAD model

Abstract

Important urban transformations can strongly alter the image of a city from different points of view, concerning aesthetical, functional, social and economic aspects. In this paper the model UrAD is tested and used for showing and evaluating the impact of the transformations in the city of Turin during the last years. The city appears a perfect opportunity for this kind of analysis because of its recent numerous and deep transformations, mainly on the occasion of the Olympic Games 2006. Then, we studied the consequent impact analysing the spatial distribution of the social benefit given by amenities and beauties improving the urban life quality of an ordinary citizen. The testing of the model consists of a comparison between the social benefit simulated by UrAD and the real estate value observed, both before and after the biggest urban transformations. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.