Speaker
Description
Cities today are shaped by a dynamic interplay of population growth, diverse services, and digital connectivity. As remote working and online interactions continue to expand (Moreno et al., 2021), scholars and practitioners alike have intensified their focus on multi-dimensional density—encompassing physical, social, and functional aspects—and its impact on accessibility, productivity, and quality of life. While higher-density development often ignites innovation and urban vibrancy (Jacobs, 1961; Glaeser, 2011), it can also exacerbate congestion and housing cost pressures. Conversely, lower-density environments may offer space and comfort yet face inefficiencies in service provision and transportation (Cervero and Kockelman, 1997). These opposing forces highlight the need to harmonize neighborhood-scale proximity with the advantages of well-served central hubs.
Within this discourse, functional density—the spatial mix of commerce, culture, education, leisure, and related facilities—stands at the crux of two potentially complementary but sometimes competing development objectives. One seeks to leverage agglomeration benefits in key urban nodes, while the other prioritizes localized services through more dispersed approaches such as the “n-minute city” (Moreno et al., 2021). Although many studies have implied a generally positive link between facility mix and travel outcomes (Cervero and Kockelman, 1997), limited attention has been paid to potential trade-offs between hub-oriented intensity and everyday convenience. A more nuanced perspective is required to capture how total trip volumes, internal trip ratios, and a district’s overall attractiveness to leisure-seeking travelers are influenced by variations in functional density.
This study examines whether a balanced level of functional density can enhance local accessibility and manage external inflows without diminishing broader urban performance. We focus on weekend non-commute travel in 1,150 administrative districts across the Seoul Metropolitan Region, capturing both total trip volumes and intra-district travel ratios as dependent variables. Our independent variables include cultural, dining, and recreational facility indicators, population density, land-use diversity, daytime population ratios, and travel distance/time metrics. By excluding job-related measures, we aim to isolate leisure-oriented movements that increasingly shape urban travel behavior (Ewing and Cervero, 2010).
Methodologically, we employ a gravity model-based Ordinary Least Squares framework, incorporating both travel flows and spatial attributes. This enables us to quantify how varying degrees of functional density influence people’s propensity to remain within their local district or travel longer distances for leisure and social activities. Preliminary results suggest that moderate but well-distributed facility mixes can reinforce neighborhood cohesion, reduce external trip generation, and ease congestion. However, excessive concentration of key amenities can draw substantial inflows, triggering local congestion, escalating real estate costs, and uneven urban development.
By systematically examining these dynamics in a major metropolitan setting, this research provides empirical insights for identifying “optimal density” strategies that simultaneously promote sustainability, equity, and urban vitality. The paper concludes with policy recommendations on facility distribution, zoning, and regional planning approaches, aiming to guide urban decision-makers toward balanced development that harmonizes local living with the synergies of vibrant central nodes.
References
Cervero, R. and Kockelman, K. (1997) Travel demand and the 3Ds: density, diversity, and design. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 2(3), pp.199–219.
Ewing, R. and Cervero, R. (2010) Travel and the built environment: a meta-analysis. Journal of the American Planning Association, 76(3), pp.265–294.
Glaeser, E. (2011) Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier. London: Macmillan.
Jacobs, J. (1961) The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York: Random House.
Moreno, C., Allam, Z., Chabaud, D., Gall, C. and Pratlong, F. (2021) Introducing the “15-minute city”: sustainability, resilience and place identity in future post-pandemic cities. Smart Cities, 4(1), pp.93–111.
| Keywords | Multi-dimensional density; functional mix; urban mobility; non-commute trips; gravity model |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
