A multidomain approach to neighbourhood typology for urban environmental studies

Cities are facing unprecedented challenges to their environments and residents due to continuous growth, including urban overheating, daylight accessibility, noise, and air pollution. This requires a holistic approach to the research and implementation of mitigation strategies, aiming at improving overall multidomain environmental quality. This study aims to develop a method for classifying neighbourhoods into identifiable types accounting for their distinctive multidomain environmental characteristics. The method uses a data-driven approach based on parameters describing urban morphology, land cover, and road network. A K-means algorithm was used to cluster 1583 neighbourhood units at the resolution of 250 m × 250 m in Geneva and Zurich, Switzerland. Performance-based comparisons were conducted to determine the optimal k-value and the most suitable clustering approach, evaluating separate versus combined clustering. Fifteen distinct neighbourhood types emerged from the analysis, spanning from high-density urban centres with extensive primary road networks to low-density suburban residential areas. These neighbourhood types exhibited distinctive environmental characteristics in the domains of thermal environment, air quality, daylight and acoustics (Kruskal-Wallis tests, p < 0.001 for all indicators). The Multidomain Neighbourhood Typology supports research on effective mitigation strategies by considering the broader multidomain environmental context to maximise co-benefits and minimise trade-offs. It also serves as a framework for context-specific implementations of mitigation measures, addressing the intrinsic multidomain environmental challenges of each neighbourhood type to enhance overall environmental quality.