Measuring Urban Performance

The concept of urban performance is introduced and discussed and specific quantitative performance measures are formulated which reflect the availability of certain desired urban attributes to different groups or residents. The measures are sensitive to the geographical distribution of types of land use activity, to the nature of the transportation system, to the behavioral characteristics of different resident groups, and to social and economic policies. Hence the measures can be influenced by physical and social programs along with endogenous urban development. Urban data items are suggested for the calculation of the urban performance measures, and the display and use of the measures as an aid to urban planning is discussed.