Effect of Walkability on Urban Sustainability in the Osaka Metropolitan Fringe Area

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the effect of walkability on urban sustainability, according to the types of residential clusters in the Osaka Metropolitan fringe area. For this purpose, this study analyzed the statistical causal relationship between the Walkability Index and the Ecological Footprint to Biocapacity (EF/BC) ratio of each residential cluster. The EF/BC ratio is the ratio of the ecological footprint of the biocapacity of the residential clusters. As a result, the effect of walkability on urban sustainability was clarified depending upon the types of residential clusters in the Osaka Metropolitan fringe area. Specifically, it was found that the Walkability Index negatively affects the EF/BC ratio in the sprawl cluster. This suggests that, in the sprawl cluster, active efforts to improve the Walkability Index can contribute to the realization of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda). However, Walkability Index has a strong positive effect on the EF/BC ratio in the old new-town cluster, etc. For the residential clusters, the results of this study suggested that there is a necessity to improve urban sustainability through approaches other than improving Walkability.

How Does the Location of Urban Facilities Affect the Forecasted Population Change in the Osaka Metropolitan Fringe Area?

“…The residential clusters were plotted on the map shown in Figure 3, indicating the location characteristics of each residential cluster. (Figure 3 shows the same results as the urban ecological analysis by Kato [24]).…”

“…The cohort component method clarified residential clusters with rapidly declining populations in the Osaka Metropolitan Fringe areas. This process involved using the cohort component method with Japanese census data from 2015 [24]. For the analysis, this study used the "Future Population/Household Forecasting Program" (version 1.3), which was developed by the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management in Japan [27].…”

“…Using the urban ecological analysis in Section 2.1, thirteen residential clusters were clarified. These thirteen residential clusters are the same as those analyzed by Kato [24]. Among these thirteen residential clusters, Appendix A shows six residential clusters located in the Osaka Metropolitan Fringe areas.…”

“…Kato et al [16] evaluated urban ecological analysis's effectiveness by categorizing the types of residential clusters in the northern part of the Osaka metropolitan area. Moreover, Kato [24] analyzed the types of clusters via urban ecological analysis in the Osaka metropolitan area, the same region studied by this paper. The validity of the analysis was also assessed [24].…”

“…Moreover, Kato [24] analyzed the types of clusters via urban ecological analysis in the Osaka metropolitan area, the same region studied by this paper. The validity of the analysis was also assessed [24]. This research consisted of five steps.…”