Urban livability: Agent-based simulation, assessment, and interpretation for the case of Futian District, Shenzhen

The livability of a city, which includes social, economic, environmental, and other connotations, assumes a central role in determining the quality of life. Only when the city develops in a coordinated manner in these aspects can it truly build a sustainable urbanism. Current literature on urban livability show gaps in terms of its measurement and assessment, especially from a dynamic point of view. To address these gaps, in this paper we design an indicator system for measuring urban livability which is built upon a comprehensive synthesis of existing literature to our knowledge. Based on the indicator system, we build an agent-based simulation model on the NetLogo platform for urban livability which utilizes multi-source geographical data. In applying the model in our study case, Futian District, Shenzhen, the simulated livability scores are tested valid and robust, thus hinting its potentials for generalization. A further global sensitivity analysis on the simulation results reveals the first- and second-order factors’ contribution structure to the overall livability score, which proves a useful tool in policy analysis. The simulation tools developed in this paper constitute a practical approach for sustainable development of cities in supporting governance policy evaluation and design, and the methodological framework offers a new scope for understanding the mechanisms of the making of urban livability.