Planning cities for our “future” selves: age-friendly cities indicators and tools for better urban planning

Abstract

In the context of rapid urbanisation and a globally ageing population, cities bear the responsibility of addressing the evolving needs of older adults while ensuring social justice in urban development. Urban planning plays a crucial role in creating inclusive environments that promote safety, independence, and active community participation among older people.
However, city officials and policymakers often struggle to implement age-friendly strategies due to limited expertise, insufficient data, and a lack of specialised tools tailored to the specific needs of ageing populations. This research aims to support urban planners and policymakers in integrating age-friendly and socially just principles into urban development through a structured,
multi-stage approach.
First, it establishes a comprehensive framework of indicators derived from existing research and established models. This framework is informed by comparative analysis and active engagement of older adults and civil servants involved in urban governance, ensuring meaningful collaboration and co-creation. Second, building on this indicator framework, the study develops
an index that combines spatial and nonspatial factors to facilitate age-friendly and equitable urban planning at the neighbourhood level. Finally, the research explores the integration of this index into an advanced digital decision-making tool, such as a local digital twin, to support data-driven and socially just urban transformations. This assessment examines data management processes and investigates the potential for embedding the index into digital urban planning
systems to enhance its practical application.
This research highlights the importance of designing cities that do not merely accommodate older adults but actively empower them as central participants in urban life. The findings, presented through three interconnected studies, contribute to a comprehensive understanding of age-friendly urban planning and its digital integration, validated through a real-world case study.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidad de País Vasco (UPV/EHU)
Supervisor	Unai Martín Roncero (Supervisor) & Patricia Molina Costa (Supervisor)