Index of territorial fruition (IT)

 

The concept of usability essentially refers to two meanings: the first encompasses the sense of satisfaction deriving from the possibility of using a tangible or intangible asset; the second, more technical, is associated with the recognition of a right in some way recognised by a norm to benefit from something that cannot be denied. From a methodological point of view, it seemed opportune to start from the identification of the components that make it possible to express the concept of usability of a territory, inverting the logic and assigning a a priori significance to the variables, categorising them and subsequently measuring and comparing them with each other.

In a brief summary, the procedure for defining IT can be structured in the following points/phases:

a) definition of the concept of usability of an area;
b) definition of the components and sub-components;
c) identification of significant variables;
d) definition of a minimum territorial reference unit;
e) acceptance of the significant variables and construction of a database associated with a territory;
f) parametrisation of the variables;
g) calculation of a synthetic index of territorial use.

As a preliminary step, a prior investigation of the scientific literature is necessary in order to arrive at a shared and agreeable definition, but above all to verify how much the issue is investigated at the level of scientific research, with particular reference to the urban/territorial sector.

Generally speaking, it can be said that territorial fruition (TF) refers primarily to the use of and access to the goods and services present in a given territory. In the urban, environmental and social contexts, TF can express how people interact with the space they occupy, including natural resources, infrastructure, public services and cultural and recreational opportunities.
In this sense, TF can include aspects such as:

• Accessibility: understood as the ease with which people can reach and use the resources available in the area.
• Sustainability: understood as the responsible use of resources, taking into account environmental and social impacts.
• Inclusiveness: understood as the ability to ensure that all social groups, including people with disabilities, the elderly and minorities, can enjoy the territory in an equitable manner.
• Valorization: understood as the promotion and management of cultural and natural heritage to improve the quality of life and attract visitors.

Land fruition, therefore, is a complex issue involving different aspects of land management. To measure land use, it is important to consider several variables that can influence this experience. The aspects highlighted can be investigated by considering certain quantitative variables.

Accessibility

Distance in km from the main transport nodes (roads, railways, airports)

Quality and availability of public transport (frequency, no. of lines)

Pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure (presence, extension in km)

 

Land use

Type of land use (residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural)

Percentage of green areas and public spaces

Distribution of services (schools, hospitals, shops)

 

Attractiveness

Presence of tourist and cultural attractions

Events and recreational activities available

Quality of the urban and natural environment

 

Sustainability

Pollution level and air quality

Waste management and environmental sustainability practices

Presence of sustainable mobility initiatives

 

Sociodemography

Population composition (age, gender, income)

Employment and unemployment rates

Migration and population flows

 

Infrastructure and services

Availability and quality of infrastructure (water, electricity, internet)

Access to health, educational and social services

 

Economic factors

Local economic indicators (GDP, average income)

Investment in infrastructure and urban development

 

Legislation and governance

Spatial planning policies

Regulations and legislation influencing land use

 

By considering these variables, it is possible to obtain a complex and articulated framework of land use, useful for planning interventions, improving accessibility and promoting sustainable development. A possible formula for the calculation of a composite variable can be:

 

IF = [(A_cc \times T) + (E + S_ic + CO_ff) - D_iff]

Where:

IF              Land Fruition Index

A_cc            Accessibility (e.g. transport infrastructure, pedestrian routes, etc.)

T               Type of Territory (urban, rural, mountain areas, etc.)

E               User Experience (quality of services, attractiveness of activities, etc.)

S_ic             Security (level of security of the territory)

CO_ff          Capacity of Offer (number and variety of attractions, events, activities available)

D_iff            Difficulty of Use (negative factors such as pollution, congestion, lack of services)

 

Additional Considerations

Weighing of variables: each variable might have a different weight according to its relative importance for the specific context. For example, safety might have greater weight in areas of high population density.

Additional variables: additional variables, such as environmental sustainability, community participation, or economic impact, may be included to make the formula even more robust.

Data Collection Methodology: it is important to define how to collect data for each factor, for example using surveys, analysis of existing data, or case studies.

Application and Analysis: once the fruition index has been calculated, one can make comparative analyses between different areas, monitor changes over time, or assess the impact of specific interventions.

It should be noted that the formula can be adapted and modified according to the available data and the specific objectives of the research or analysis. It is also important to consider the local context and the unique characteristics of the area in question. In other words, this formula should be considered as a possible starting point and can be adapted and improved according to the specific needs of the territory under consideration and the aims of the measurement.

 

Further Considerations on Data Collection and Index Calculation

• Data Sources:
• Field surveys: surveys, questionnaires, interviews.
• Statistical data: local, regional, national authorities.
• Documentation: management plans, scientific studies, reports.
• GIS data: cartography, orthophotos.
• Normalisation: variables must be normalised to make them comparable (e.g. scale 0-1 or 0-100).
• Weighting: each variable can be weighted according to its relative importance for the use of the site (e.g. through a consultation process with experts).
• Aggregation: weighted variables are aggregated to obtain a score for each dimension and a final score for IT.