Effects of the Human and Built Environment on Neighborhood Vitality: Evidence from Seoul, Korea, Using Mobile Phone Data

Abstract

Neighborhood vitality denotes the presence of people and space for human activities and is critical for creating sustainable cities. However, there is limited understanding of its association with multidimensional aspects of the human and built environment. Using the de facto population, established through mobile signal data, as an indicator of neighborhood vitality in Seoul, South Korea, this study empirically tests the uneven effects of the human and built environment and its latent factors on neighborhood vitality. The multidimensional human and built environment models confirmed that higher population and employment density and neighborhoods with higher land value are associated with neighborhood vitality on working days and weekends, while higher land-use mix and balance and dense neighborhoods remarkably contribute to the higher presence of inhabitants on weekends. The latent factor models revealed that (1) centralized neighborhoods with concentrated employment and high land values determine higher neighborhood vitality; and (2) land-use mix positively explained the variations in neighborhood vitality only during working hours. The key findings illuminate the significance and latent structure of the human and built environment on neighborhood vitality.