Assessing urban spatial vitality in post-port areas: a multimodal data analysis of Shanghai, Liverpool, and Marseille

The shift and decline of port functions present opportunities for spatial and functional transformation in historic port areas. However, maintaining spatial vitality during urban renewal remains a significant challenge. While practical experience in revitalizing these areas abounds, a theoretical model for assessing and fostering vitality remains lacking. Existing research often overlooks crucial factors such as development context, spatial characteristics, and the development stages of different urban spaces. This research addresses this gap by developing and validating a big-data-driven theoretical framework to dynamically monitor spatial vitality in post-industrial port areas and evaluate the impact of regeneration strategies on a global scale. Focusing on Shanghai, Liverpool, and Marseille as comparative case studies, this study aims to achieve four key objectives: (1) refining the concept of spatial vitality within the context of global port area regeneration; (2) identifying key determinants—spanning spatial, functional, historical, and waterfront characteristics—that shape vitality, and analyzing their statistical and spatial relationships; (3) applying regression and machine learning models to uncover the distinct factors influencing vitality in post-port settings; and (4) assessing the effectiveness of regeneration strategies in the selected cases based on these insights. Beyond its empirical application, this framework provides a robust theoretical lens for understanding vitality dynamics, offering actionable guidelines for policymakers, planners, urban designers, and managers to support the sustainable redevelopment of post-port areas worldwide.