What are the best practices and tools for measuring and monitoring polycentricity?

1 Defining polycentricity

Before measuring and monitoring polycentricity, it is important to have a clear and consistent definition of what it means. Polycentricity can be understood from different perspectives, such as functional, morphological, institutional, or perceptual. Functional polycentricity refers to the degree of integration and complementarity among urban centers based on flows of people, goods, and information. Morphological polycentricity relates to the physical shape and density of urban centers and the spaces between them. Institutional polycentricity involves the level of coordination and cooperation among different levels of governance and stakeholders in a region. Perceptual polycentricity captures the sense of identity and belonging of the residents and visitors of a region.

2 Choosing indicators

Once polycentricity is defined, the next step is to choose appropriate indicators that can capture its various dimensions and aspects. Indicators are quantitative or qualitative measures that can be used to compare, evaluate, and monitor polycentricity across regions and over time. There is no single set of indicators that can fit all contexts and purposes, but some common ones include population size and growth, employment structure and diversity, accessibility and connectivity, land use and urban form, public services and amenities, governance structures and processes, and regional identity and awareness.

3 Collecting data

After selecting indicators, the next step is to collect reliable and relevant data that can feed into them. Data can be obtained from various sources, such as official statistics, surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, maps, satellite images, or social media. Depending on the availability and quality of data, different methods and techniques can be applied to process, analyze, and visualize them. For example, data can be aggregated, disaggregated, normalized, weighted, or indexed to create composite indicators or rankings of polycentricity.

4 Using tools

Urban planners and researchers have access to several tools for the collection, analysis, and visualization of data. Some of these tools are specific to polycentricity, while others are more general and can be adapted to different contexts and scales. Examples include POLYMETREX, a web-based tool that allows users to create and compare maps of functional polycentricity in Europe; POLYCE, a toolkit that provides a framework and indicators for measuring and monitoring morphological and functional polycentricity in Central European metropolitan regions; POLYNET, a project that developed a methodology and database for measuring and monitoring functional polycentricity in eight European metropolitan regions; and QGIS, a free and open source geographic information system for creating, editing, and visualizing spatial data and maps.

5 Communicating results

The final step is to communicate the results of the measurement and monitoring of polycentricity to different audiences and stakeholders. This can be done through various formats and channels, such as reports, presentations, infographics, dashboards, websites, or social media. The communication should be clear, concise, and relevant, highlighting the main findings, implications, and recommendations of the analysis. The communication should also be interactive and participatory, inviting feedback, comments, and suggestions from the users and beneficiaries of the information.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?