A GIS-based Evaluation of Urban Livability using Factor Analysis and a Combination of Environmental and Socio-economic Indicators

Livability evaluations are typically conducted at the country or city level. However, these levels of analysis cannot accurately reflect how livability is distributed within a city. The current study focuses on evaluating urban livability at the urban block level in District 1 of Tehran using a multi-dimensional approach. This article has taken an analytical approach to urban livability metrics utilized through the physical environment, socio-economic environment, and spatial accessibility dimensions. Remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS) techniques were applied to assess physical environment indicators such as air quality, greenness, surface temperature, and buildup density. A quantitative analysis was conducted to evaluate access to six essential urban services, considering both the number of services and their spatial distribution based on the street network. Our GIS-based approach provided an efficient framework for combining 20 objective indicators driven by statistical, remote sensing, and spatial data to systematic assessment of urban areas’ strengths and weaknesses in terms of livability. Factor analysis was utilized to create dimensional livability maps, providing a reliable approach to prevent the redundant inclusion of highly correlated indicators, leading to a more comprehensive evaluation. Finally, the TOPSIS multi-criteria analysis was used to rank neighborhoods according to their average livability score. The results highlighted significant differences in livability within the district. The central and southern parts had the highest scores, while the farthest western and eastern areas had the lowest scores due to lower accessibility and poorer socio-economic conditions. Our evaluation framework offers efficient guidance for organizations requiring detailed livability information before and after implementing planning actions. The findings suggest that addressing livability in urban areas should focus on smaller evaluation units, such as urban blocks.