Urban sustainability in social housing environments: A spatial impact assessment in Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

As cities adapt to the challenges of rapid urbanization, sustainable development goals, and post-pandemic realities, understanding the intricacies of urban sustainability is vital. This study presents a spatial impact assessment of urban sustainability, focusing on the distinctive requirements of social housing urban environments in Bogota, Colombia. By contextualizing this study in the ever-evolving post-pandemic paradigm, it depicts the current conditions of the city towards future development scenarios. The sustainability assessment relies on a set of 11 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), emphasizing the particular needs of social housing and offering a comprehensive analysis that links the conditions of the urban environment, environmental quality, and social well-being, all under the umbrella of Sustainable Development Goal 11. Specific spatial analysis using GIS tools (e.g. spatial interpolation, network analysis, multispectral imagery analysis), statistical analysis, and data engineering were employed to evaluate the selected KPIs. This evaluation revealed distinct spatial patterns of socioeconomic inequity, primarily impacting areas with a higher concentration of social housing within the city. These findings highlight critical areas requiring strategic attention to promote the city's sustainability transition. Key insights indicate that areas lacking sufficient access to green spaces and essential urban services, alongside higher pollution levels, are associated with lower social well-being, reduced perceptions of security, and are characterized by high population density and a significant presence of social housing. These results, available on an interactive web-GIS app, underscore the imperative for policies and planning that not only address the provision of social housing but also ensure a sustainable built environment, shaping a sustainable, inclusive, safe, and resilient future. The methodology and insights presented in this study are also applicable and scalable to similar urban contexts globally.