GWPCA-based spatial analysis of urban vitality: a comparative assessment of three high-altitude Himalayan towns in India

ABSTRACTUrban vitality comprises the livingness, vibrancy and attractiveness of urban areas. This research analyzes urban vitality in three Himalayan towns in India: Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong. Using the GWPCA method, 29 indicators across six domains were considered to develop a comprehensive urban vitality index (UVI). The study also explores how urban growth and design influence vitality in these towns. With the help of LISA and Moran's I analyses, the research determines that town centers display high vitality. The findings highlight the role of expansion patterns and European-style blocks in maintaining this vibrancy.KEYWORDS: Urban vitalityGWPCAurban expansionspatial analysisGIS AcknowledgmentsFirstly, the authors would like to express cordial thanks to Department of Geography and Applied Geography, University of North Bengal for providing opportunity in conducting the research work. This research paper was completed during the tenure of the UGC-JRF period. Furthermore, the authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Editor-in-Chief and Associate Editor for their invaluable comments and suggestions. Lastly, the authors are deeply grateful to the three anonymous reviewers for their insightful remarks and innovative ideas, which have substantially enriched the content of this article.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Credit authorshipS.R. and S.M. – Writing – Original Draft, Conceptualisation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Software, Visualisation, Review & Editing, Supervision. A.B. – Software, Visualisation, InvestigationI.R.C. – Review & Editing.Data availability statementThe data can be provided upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.Informed consentAll the co-authors read this article before submission and every step is informed to all the co-authors.