From gateway to strengthening urban identity: Discovering satellite city brand vitality of Indonesia's new capital city

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the city brand vitality of a rising satellite city to strengthen its identity as a competitive independent city while supporting the new capital city. This study examines the spatial distribution of city brand vitality in Balikpapan in relation to establishment of Indonesia's Nusantara Capital City. The city brand represents the city's pre-satellite condition, while vitality reflects urban dynamism and quality of life. This research applies spatial autocorrelation to detect clustering patterns of vitality, GIS processing for spatial visualization, and Python-based computational methods to quantify city brand vitality across the 5P dimensions (place, people, presence, prosperity, and pulse) using multiple urban big data sources. Findings indicate that suburban areas exhibit moderate city brand vitality, while central districts demonstrate higher vitality, reflecting a shift towards balanced urban development. The higher nighttime light (NTL) intensity in older built-up areas and the concentration of points of interest (POIs) in economic hubs highlight long-term vitality sustainability. These findings suggest that the satellite city is fostering an independent identity by promoting inclusive development beyond a single urban center. This study contributes to spatial vitality assessment methodologies, offers a comprehensive city brand vitality analysis, and demonstrates the potential of computational urban studies for dynamic urban system evaluation. This study acknowledges limitations in data resolution disparities and social media user, which may influence spatial pattern interpretation. Future research could integrate high-frequency mobility data or sentiment analysis to refine the assessment of city brand vitality.