The magnitude increase of Urban Quality of Life studies is directly connected with the increase of the urban population in the world. Urban Quality of Life is a hierarchical multi-attribute concept whose attributes can be defined and evaluated by several kinds of methods such as Monetary (Hedonic Price, Willingness-to-pay, Cost-Benefit, Positional Value), Subjective (life satisfaction, subjective wellbeing, ranking/rating evaluation) and Quantitative (how many urban attractions there are in the city, and how they are distributed on its planimetry). As real examples of monetary approaches, 107 empirical literature results are briefly shown, quantifying the increase of property value in relation to urban factors such as green, open space, noise, public transport, pleasant view, etc. The result of a Willingness-to-Pay survey, and the definition of Positional Value are also shown; it is the part of property value coming from the characteristics of the area in which the property is. An analysis of Turin illustrated that the quality of the area (the Positional Value) can change the value of a property up to 143%. This value is, in a certain way, a monetary mirror of the quality of life of the areas. As a concrete example of subjective approaches two rating method surveys on Turin are rapidly exposed, as well as a recent subjective wellbeing study comparing the life satisfaction in cities and in the countryside. As quantitative approaches are proposed the concepts of Isobenefit Lines and the Isobenefit Orography, both from the spatial urban amenities distribution and quantity. . This paper will illustrate some possible methods to assess the Urban Life Quality (ULQ), and separates them among monetary, subjective and quantitative approaches.
Urban quality of life as a Multi-attribute evaluationThe ULQ is a hierarchical multi-attribute concept characterized by several underlying attributes that, in turn, are defined by more specific underlying attributes. These attributes are: environmental quality, air quality, green, jobs, social condition, urban quality, architecture quality, pedestrian areas, etc.Estimating the urban quality of life is a complex quality assessment of many different features that must be considered simultaneously. The behavioural decision theory provides a number of methods for the analysis of multi-attribute objects/concepts. Several methods are used to identify the relevant attributes of objects/concepts. For instance they can be elicited by reviewing literature, interviewing significant people (i.e. experts, residents), or by using common sense. Among the techniques for interviewing, we can separate direct questioning and indirect questioning. In direct questioning the interviewee is asked to give a preference for an object and justify it. This technique is built on the presupposition that the respondent already knows well which attribute is determinant for his preference. It is also assumed that he is able to quantify the influence of each attribute on his preference. Indirect questioning refers to ...
