Urban Vibrancy: An Analogy of Biodiversity, Retail Diversity, and Activity-Based Urban Diversity Measures

Yim Yiu, Edward Chung, Pacheco, Diogo, Di Clemente, Riccardo and Botta, Federico (2026) Urban Vibrancy: An Analogy of Biodiversity, Retail Diversity, and Activity-Based Urban Diversity Measures. Pnas Nexus. ISSN 2752-6542 (In Press)

Abstract

central question in urban studies is what makes a city vibrant — where vibrancy reflects the dynamic social energy of urban life. Traditional measures such as population density and land-use mix often fail to capture this dynamism. Drawing an analogy from ecology and retail studies, where biodiversity and retail diversity are quantified through species or tenant richness and abundance, this paper proposes a new framework for understanding urban vibrancy through the lens of activity diversity. We present a theoretical model of the key determinants of vibrancy, showing how a diversity of urban activities enhances the vitality of cities by offering a range of services and experiences without leading to overcrowding. We further extend the ecological analogy to the management of urban over-diversity, applying principles such as carrying capacity, density-dependent regulation, and niche differentiation. The paper also introduces a taxonomy for classifying urban activities in relation to vibrancy and concludes with a roadmap outlining the challenges and opportunities of this framework. Together, these insights advance our understanding of how cities thrive and offer guidance for planning strategies that balance vibrancy with sustainability.

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