Shilpi Mittal

Bio: Shilpi Mittal is an academic researcher from GD Goenka University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Built environment & Government. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 4 publications receiving 24 citations.

Review of Concepts, Tools and Indices for the Assessment of Urban Quality of Life

Abstract: The rapid urban growth poses a huge challenge in sustaining the quality of local environment and life characteristics in contemporary cities. There is a growing body of literature on sustainable cities, QoL, livability; yet a transparent and verifiable knowledge on its assessment at the urban scale is both limited and disparate. Very recently, the use of computational models, tools and indices has seen a sudden upsurge in QoL assessment at the city and sub-city level. This research, through an exhaustive review of scientific and policy literature postulates that despite promulgation of numerous and comprehensive indices and tools, yet these demonstrate a great deal of inconsistency and incomparability. This necessitates an investigation into what ought to be the preferred attributes/features of an ideal model, thereby demanding a systematic, transparent and objective appraisal of urban QoL assessment tools used worldwide. Addressing to the above objective, the research examines peer-reviewed papers to derive eight fundamental study criteria (type of dataset, scope or parameters, sample- coverage and unit, approach, technique, model type, interphase and application) that could typically characterizes such tool. It then reviews scientific and policy literature, open-access webpages on the internet to identify a first of its kind, exhaustive inventory of 26 urban QoL models and then critically evaluates these on the basis of the eight study criteria. The ensuing results bring to the fore a plethora of new, interesting and some inconvenient findings, most importantly that not even a single tool captures all the seven theoretical dimensions of QoL. Despite meant to evaluate quality in cities, only few tools conduct qualitative, subjective, bottom-up, GIS based simulation modeling that could effectively be put to use for more public and policy oriented applications. Lastly, the research demonstrates with credible evidence that a majority of tools/index continue to understand the city as a homogenous entity, with limited know-how on the variability of QoL at the neighbourhood level.

Smart and Livable Cities: Opportunities to Enhance Quality of Life and Realize Multiple Co-benefits

Abstract: Throughout human history, cities have been centres of prosperity, ideas and innovation These days, smart cities are creating a new buzzword across the world Examples boom in Japan, Europe, UAE and Singapore while several others are shaping up on the drawing board With the recent announcement of 100 new Smart Cities, the Government of India has strategically responded to both the international call for innovation and transformative sustainability as well as growing domestic pressure in cities Interestingly, there is neither an internationally accepted definition of a Smart City, nor does India have any national policy on urbanization Within this science-policy vacuum, there is a fair degree of consensus on what a smart city looks like, but no understanding on what are the inputs and strategies to achieve one With numerous expectations, inhibitions and euphoria around this theme, this paper attempts to systematically investigate what is a smart city, how it is different from similar prototypes like a sustainable, green and low-carbon city and what are the global best practices The article addresses some of the ideological, technical, societal, governance and financial challenges that India faces to attain the ‘100 Smart Cities’ goal, and what would be its policy implications In the process, the research proposes a new idiom for SMART—Sustainability, Metrics, Adaptiveness, Reporting, Technology for Inclusiveness

Evaluation of QoL in cities of diverse neighbourhood typologies: A scientific study of New Delhi

Abstract: Quality of life (QoL) in urban areas is increasingly finding prominence in practice. There are numerous studies interlinking residential built environment and QoL at the city level but very few at ...

Addressing the covid-19 crisis by harnessing internet of things sensors and machine learning algorithms in data-driven smart sustainable cities

Abstract: This paper analyzes the outcomes of an exploratory review of the current research on data-driven smart sustainable cities The data used for this study was obtained and replicated from previous research conducted by Capgemini, ICMA, KPMG, UNESCAP, UNHSP, SCC, The University of Adelaide, and The World Bank We performed analyses and made estimates regarding Internet of Things sensors and machine learning algorithms Data collected from 5,200 respondents are tested against the research model by using structural equation modeling © 2020, Addleton Academic Publishers All rights reserved

Factors underlying life quality in urban contexts: Evidence from an industrial city (arak, iran)

Abstract: Cities play a vital role in local development providing a high education level, specialized jobs and advanced services. When assessing living conditions and wellbeing in cities, economic indicators alone are generally unable to evaluate the inherent complexity of the ‘quality of life’ issue in urban environments. With rapid urbanization, shortage of infrastructures and services emerged in metropolitan regions of developing countries, leading to disadvantaged settlements, urban poverty, lower citizens’ satisfaction, and an overall decline in life quality. Based on these premises, the present study illustrates a subjective investigation of life quality in an emerging economy such as Iran, focusing on Arak, the fourth largest industrial pole of the country. Based on a literature review on quality of life in industrial cities of emerging economies, subjective indicators of citizens’ satisfaction on living quality in Arak were identified and quantified using empirical results from a field survey. Results of our study show that the overall satisfaction for living quality in Arak is rather low, reaching the lowest rank in the issues of environmental sanitation and public transportation. Lack of investments in urban infrastructure justifies the low citizens’ perception of life quality in Arak city. The paper concludes outlining the urgent need of homogeneous and comparable macro- and micro-data on multiple aspects of quality of life at both city-level and metropolitan-level in emerging economies.

Exploring the dimensions of urban quality of life associated with urban traffic jam: The development and validation of an instrument

Abstract: There is a gap in the literature on the domains of urban quality of life (UQOL) that are mostly affected by traffic and transport. Another gap is the lack of valid and reliable instruments to assess this concept and the domains associated with. In this paper, we report on the development of an instrument to measure urban QOL associated with urban traffic jam. Applying a mixed-method approach with sequential exploratory design, we developed the Urban QoL Questionnaire-associated with Traffic Jam (UQLQ-TJ) in two phases: at first, the experiences of 28 key informant residents on the aspects of their life quality associated with traffic jam were, qualitatively, explored. The answers to the research question in phase one provided us with specific items for use in putting into operation the UQLQ-TJ, which was, quantitatively, assessed in terms of validity and reliability, in a survey of 1042 residents. In phase one, the participants suggested seven dimensions of UQOL associated with traffic jam: family, physical, environmental, mobility, seniors, psychological, and socio-economic. The analysis of the survey, in phase two, appeared the validity and reliability of the seven dimensions. Confirmatory factor analysis showed goodness of fit (dif = 489, χ2 = 1665.372, χ2/df = 3.40, and P < 0.0001), and the indices RMSEA = 0.048, SRMR = 0.049, CFI = 0.909, and TLI = 0.900 confirmed that the model fit the data well. Our results supported the initial validity and reliability of the UQLQ-TJ, which may assist urban traffic and transport organizations in improving their interventional efforts. Application of UQLQ-TJ in such evaluations can provide the policymakers with a subjective estimation of multidisciplinary data that encompasses a wide range of urban planning features. The data retrieved using such a validated instrument may be particularly helpful in designing evidence-based health promotion interventions and urban lifestyle educational programs, focused on urban quality of life promotion and well-being. • There is a gap in the literature about the mostly affected domains of urban quality of life (UQOL) by traffic and transport. • A mixed-method design was helpful in developing the Urban QoL Questionnaire-associated with Traffic Jam (UQLQ-TJ). • Our results supported the initial validity and reliability of the UQLQ-TJ. • Seven dimensions of UQLQ-TJ were family, physical, environmental, mobility, seniors, psychological, and socio-economic. • The UQLQ-TJ represents a valuable self-report instrument for urban traffic and transport researchers and policy-makers.