Analysis of sustainability and health indicators in relation to urban design in the cities of Reus and Tarragona

Identifier:  TFM:1779

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFM1779

Authors:  Domínguez Mallafré, Marc

Abstract:
This study investigates the relationship between urban form, the built environment, and accessibility in Reus and Tarragona, two medium-sized cities that exhibit distinct urban dynamics and configurations. The GHSCI software is used to calculate health and sustainability indicators, an open-source software that employs open data for analysis. The particularities of each city in terms of urban accessibility are highlighted, and the results of the walkability index are presented. Reus, with a more compact structure, shows how its built environment promotes active mobility, while Tarragona, with a more dispersed planning, shows deficiencies in connectivity. The analysis highlights the significant influence of urban morphology on the quality of life of residents, emphasizing the need to adapt urban planning strategies to the specific characteristics of medium-sized cities. The study suggests that the replicability of the methods used can provide valuable lessons for other studies in similar urban contexts analysing medium-sized cities. It also highlights the use of this open-source software, the limitations of its application in medium-sized cities, and opens new lines of future research.