Eva Psatha (p)

Ioana-Maria Ursache

Measuring urban quality of life (QoL) is a complex yet crucial process for understanding urban dynamics and policy effectiveness. Over the past decade, different methodologies have been developed to assess QoL in Greek cities. In previous research, two composite indicator systems were introduced: DPRD50, a comprehensive framework of 50 indicators derived from 70 variables, and its refined version, DPRD20, which included the most influential indicators and was applied to a subset of cities. These systems required significant data collection efforts from municipalities and various agencies, posing challenges in data availability and standardization.
This presentation develops a new, streamlined system of urban QoL indicators, leveraging existing datasets from the ELSTAT (Hellenic Statistical Authority) census, which takes place every decade. The primary objective is to reduce reliance on data collection from various sources, while ensuring analytical rigor and comparability. The methodology follows a three-step approach: first, the construction of a new composite index, selecting indicators aligned with the previous frameworks; second, a meta-analysis of the existing ELSTAT datasets to assess stability and comparability of data; and third, a comparative analysis across the municipalities in the Thessaloniki Urban Complex, evaluating urban QoL outcomes based on census data. This approach enables a deeper understanding of the shifts in urban QoL measurement and their implications for urban and regional policy.
The findings suggest that census-based indicators may lead to different assessments of urban QoL compared to the existing methodologies, primarily due to data limitations rather than the ineffectiveness of the former. The absence of key variables in census data results in an incomplete measurement of urban QoL, highlighting the need for supplementary indicators. The study concludes by proposing potential additions to the census surveys to enhance their role as an observatory for quality of life in cities and regions.
This research contributes to the harmonization of urban quality of life measurement, facilitating cross- and intra-city comparisons, while reducing data acquisition constraints. The findings offer insights into the applicability of national census data for urban studies and regional policymaking, shedding light on the evolving dynamics of urban development in Greece.

Alexandru Banica (p), Karima Kourtit , Manuel Foșalău, Oliver Dinter

Nicola Pontarollo

This study introduces a vulnerability-opportunity model to assess the sustainability of 15-minute cities (15-minC) perspective in post-socialist cities, focusing on urban resilience, proximity, and inclusive growth. Moreover, this research extends the 15-minC model by introducing a proximity index (integrating access to essential services weighted by considering the hierarchy of needs) and proxilience - a composite index of access to services, mobility, and resilience indicators. Proxilience also fosters resource-sharing partnerships between urban and rural areas, allowing for the sustainable management of shared resources. Considering all Romanina cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants but developing an extensive case study on Iași City, this research uses advanced spatial and geostatistical methods, including GIS for gravitational modelling, machine learning clustering, and network analysis, to examine the distribution and accessibility of services. At the microscale, we will create spatial accessibility models to understand and optimise urban accessibility by leveraging multiple data sources—such as the Global Human Settlement Database (GHSL) for population density and built area data, Copernicus Sentinel images for environmental quality, and web-scraped data on urban services. Additionally, at the commune level, we use geospatial regression analysis to evaluate social, economic and environmental factors (e.g., income, dependency rate, migratory rate, air pollution index etc.) in relation to access to services, enabling a nuanced understanding of the sustainability of the 15-minC concept in Romanian cities. The research outcomes emphasise that consequences can prioritise facilities that address different human needs. In rural areas, some higher needs might be lacking. Therefore, it is important to assess not just the physical existence but also the quality of these facilities—the satisfaction of clients is included in the 15-mic model. Moreover, agglomeration, traffic, and pollution create discomfort even when services are available, while in the rural peripheries, there are lower densities and a lack of services. The optimal areas are less dense neighbourhoods with diverse services and a cleaner environment. Meanwhile, creating new centralities based on proximity service and possibilities for active mobility in these areas could improve their sustainability and resilience. The proxilience index, on the other hand, shows that accessibility does not always bring resilience; some more isolated areas can also show resiliency, and, on the contrary, the most agglomerated places can be highly vulnerable. However, in most cases, accessibility and resilience converge, especially in areas where the population pressure on services is under a certain threshold.

Luca Gandullia, Marcello Montefiori, Lucia Leporatti, Rosella Levaggi, Nicola Pontarollo (p)

Alexandru Banica

Promoting healthy living environments necessarily passes through awareness that the determinants of health lie mainly outside the control of the public health sectors. Healthy living is the result of several factors that may produce health inequalities across socio-economic groups. As shown by WHO and other organizations, inequalities should be reduced for equity reasons and for sustainable development. Inclusion, income distribution, and access to services are critical for post-pandemic recovery and fundamental goals of the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) Plan. The study will allow describing the health status and its determinants in different environmental contexts and for different demographic and socio-economic profiles of individuals. We will exploit an original and comprehensive database collected at the suburban level for the city of Genoa in Italy derived from administrative archives and ad hoc surveys. The study on health, well-being, and urban environments will complete the "hard" data with subjective ones. Specifically, the research is structured on the following four pillars:
· analyze the environment-health-healthcare services trade-off and its evolution across demographic and socio-economic groups;
· detect the role that the family and the non-profit sector play in reducing some of the barriers to accessing healthcare;
· identify the long-term strategies that local governments and individuals may put forth to improve health;
· provide graphic representations and interactive tools that summarise the relationship environment-health-healthcare.
Our results will help local policymakers identify strengths and opportunities and benchmark neighborhoods within a city against other neighborhoods within the same town, with upper territorial levels, and with other cities or neighborhoods within other cities.

Ioana-Maria Ursache (p), Irina Clipca (p), Ioana Bejenaru, Andreia Daniela Damian, Georgiana Juravle

Eva Psatha

Living Labs are essential instruments for urban innovation, fostering stakeholder co-creation/collaboration and real-world experimentation across various domains under the smart city paradigm, e.g., mobility, digitalisation, economy, healthcare. While these initiatives have demonstrated potential for participatory governance and digital transformation, their long-term sustainability remains uncertain. Some Living Labs evolve into enduring institutions, while others cease operations after a limited period, raising important questions about the governance, and the financial and/or institutional underlying conditions.
This study explores the factors that shape the durability of Living Labs through a bibliometric and thematic analysis of the literature, by focusing on organisational structures, governance models, and sources of funding. The lifespan of selected initiatives is assessed, their financing mechanisms, and the actors driving their development, while accounting for the originating sector, whether academic, public or private. Furthermore, we highlight how the thematic focus of Living Labs impacts sectoral priorities and influences their resilience. Our findings reveal significant patterns of durable success or failure, offering insights for future governance models development.
By identifying the key governance and financial mechanisms that contribute to the sustainability of Living Labs, this study highlights their crucial role in urban innovation. Our results offer valuable guidance for policymakers, urban planners and researchers seeking to design more adaptive, long-lasting Living Labs that effectively support collaborative and sustainable urban development.

Ioana-Maria Ursache (p), Irina Clipca (p), Ioana Bejenaru, Manuel Foșalău, Andreia Daniela Damian, Georgiana Juravle

Cristian Incaltarau

Living Labs (LLs) are proposed as catalysts for urban innovation, to create a space where multiple stakeholders can collaborate, experiment, and develop solutions to pressing urban challenges. While such initiatives hold great potential, many struggle to remain active beyond their initial phase, raising important questions about the governance models that support their long-term sustainability. Here, we present the development of a Living Lab in Iași, Romania, by applying the Quadruple Helix framework, for collaborative urban governance and to address challenges through co-creation and stakeholder-driven innovation.
A multi-method approach combining policy analysis, resident surveys, and stakeholder consultations was utilised. Reviewing urban policies, council decisions, and strategic plans provided insights into existing governance structures and institutional priorities. Concomitant surveys with residents highlighted everyday urban challenges and expectations, ensuring that local needs are reflected in the co-creation process. Importantly, stakeholder consultations brought together representatives from the local government, academia, businesses, and the civil society, to explore strategies for effective cooperation, resource-sharing, and citizen engagement in the innovation process. By integrating these perspectives, a governance framework was developed, to sustain transparency, inclusivity, and long-term LL adaptability.
Our findings support the Quadruple Helix model as a key factor for LLs sustainability, highlighting the role of strong partnerships and citizen participation in LLs success. A governance framework is put forward, based on institutional flexibility, cross-sector collaboration, and long-term civic engagement, to ensure lasting LLs development. These results are of interest to the broader discussions on participatory governance, as well as they provide guidance for policymakers, urban planners, and researchers working to integrate LLs into sustainable urban development strategies.