Spatial Smartness and (In)Justice in Urban Contexts? The Case Studies of Cagliari and Parma, Italy

In response to urbanisation pressures and climate change, urban regeneration policies aiming at developing dynamic solutions for happy, inclusive, smart, and sustainable cities should include equitable access to basic services. This paper proposes a metric for measuring the level of spatial (in)justice in urban settings, beyond the city centre. The suggested indicator combines spatial, statistical and configurational analysis to calculate the number of people living in areas with limited access to basic services. The research focuses specifically on three categories of services: educational facilities, public transportation, and green areas, by exploring and evaluating Cagliari and Parma, two Italian cities. The purpose is to promote the transparency and effectiveness of public policies by facilitating well-informed decisions in the field of urban regeneration. Indeed, the development of a relevant, reproducible, comparable, and understandable metric of spatial injustice can help public agencies with: i) identification of critical areas; ii) definition of objectives for regeneration strategies; iii) measurement of the results of policies; and iv) comparison of alternative scenarios. The results underline the disparities in access to basic services between the compact core and the edges of urbanised areas. The findings underline the importance of prioritising regeneration policies in marginal areas to reduce spatial injustice. Finally, the study proposes a valuable tool for public agencies to identify areas of spatial injustice and develop targeted strategies for urban regeneration. By reducing inequalities in access to basic services, cities can become happier, more inclusive, smart, and sustainable.