Comparing land use mix measures for different urban areas: an application in a Brazilian city

Abstract

Land use mix (LUM) is considered a potential for walking, as it reduces the time and distance between origin and destination. However, the strategy to measure the land use mix is still uncertain in urban studies. Thus, this study aims to compare strategies for measuring land use mix in Brazilian cities. For this purpose, three conceptually distinct measures were applied: Entropy Index, Mixed-Use Index, and Destination Count (DC). The overlapping of land use and walking trips maps defined the segments for delimiting the analysis areas. The data aggregation units were 400, 600 and 800m street network buffers. The results reveal significant variation in LUM measurement strategies across different urban areas, with the highest Entropy Index found in the historic central area and significant DC values in the most recent neighborhoods. The MXI had satisfactory results in showing the balance between uses and offers relevant information about the characteristics of the mix. The study also demonstrates that in Cambé the mix covers smaller areas and is more intense within a 400 m radius. These findings may help future research define an appropriate LUM measure based on the type of mix identified in the study context.