The 15-minute city concept: An operations research perspective and a research agenda

The 15-minute city is an urban planning model where residents can access essential services within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. The idea is centered on reconsidering urban planning paradigms through the lens of proximity and accessibility. This paper explores how the concept can be operationalized using tools from operations research. While much of the existing literature has focused on defining and measuring accessibility in proximity-based cities, this work shifts the emphasis toward operational strategies and optimization-based methodologies to implement and manage such urban environments. We survey the relevant operations research literature, identify thematic overlaps with urban planning goals, and propose a research agenda that includes facility location, mobility systems, shared transportation services, and integrated governance models.