Statistical Methodologies for Urban Morphology Indicators: A Comprehensive Review of Quantitative Approaches to Sustainable Urban Form

TL;DR

This paper reviews quantitative methods for measuring urban morphology related to sustainability, highlighting the need for standardized indicators and spatial modeling to improve multidisciplinary urban planning research.

Contribution

It develops a comprehensive taxonomy of urban morphology indicators and analyzes research trends, gaps, and future directions in sustainable urban form studies.

Findings

Identified 365 distinct urban morphology measures across six categories.

Found significant variation and lack of standardization in measures and interpretations.

Noted regional bias with underrepresentation of the Global South and natural elements.

Abstract

Urban morphology has a significant impact on sustainable urban outcomes in the ecological, social, and economic sectors. Nonetheless, academics lack clarity and consensus on how to quantify urban morphology indicators, which impedes multidisciplinary research and the creation of integrated sustainable solutions. This comprehensive study develops a detailed taxonomy of urban form indicators related to sustainability, describes quantitative approaches for investigating the linkages between urban morphology and sustainability, and examines research trends, gaps, and future directions. A review of 89 carefully selected studies showed 365 distinct urban morphology measures, with significant variation in names, interpretations, and data formats. The measures were divided into six categories: urban tissue configuration, roadway network, building plot characteristics, land use, natural elements and greenspace, and urban expansion, each with its own subclass. The study indicates that, even though urban morphology is intrinsically spatial, spatial modeling is rarely used to investigate its relationships with sustainability. The research shows a regional bias, with insufficient representation of studies focusing on the Global South and natural elements. This synthesis calls for a standardized classification framework as well as more broad, spatially explicit techniques to foster multidisciplinary research and support effective policy and planning for sustainable urban development.