Measuring Urban Vitality to Understand Local Dynamics: The Case of the Grand Paris Express[Mesurer la vitalité urbaine pour comprendre les dynamiques territoriales locales : le cas du Grand Paris Express]

This presentation introduces a multidimensional framework for measuring urban vitality in the territories affected by Line 18 of the Grand Paris Express. Building on the literature on urban vitality, territorial attractiveness, and the 15-minute city, it conceptualizes vitality as the interaction of social, economic, and spatial functions. Using more than 60 indicators from around 200 datasets, the study maps 1,686 IRIS areas through principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering to identify distinct territorial profiles. The results reveal strong heterogeneity in urban vitality along the future transport corridor, reflecting differences in accessibility, housing, economic specialization, and public services. Case studies of the Paris-Saclay research cluster and the Guyancourt station area illustrate these contrasts. The research highlights the role of transport infrastructure in reshaping local dynamics while also exposing risks of territorial inequalities and excessive specialization. The resulting interactive mapping tool provides valuable support for planners, developers, and investors in promoting balanced, attractive, and sustainable metropolitan development. The study concludes that measuring urban vitality can enhance the planning and governance of major infrastructure projects.