Towards Development of Spatial Urban Quality Framework for Second-Tier Cities in Switzerland
EMBARGOED UNTIL 2028-07-11
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Date
2025
Publication Type
Doctoral Thesis
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yes
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EMBARGOED UNTIL 2028-07-11
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Abstract
In recent years, city indices have emerged as vital tools for evaluating urban competitiveness, quality-of-life and sustainability. These indices, widely adopted by city administrations, international organizations, and institutes, typically serve to rank and promote cities, focusing predominantly on large metropolitan hubs of global influence. However, as urbanization accelerates, it must facilitate equitable development for second-tier cities. These cities are increasingly critical to absorb substantial growth and sustain decentralised economic development. Despite their importance, second-tier cities face unique challenges—such as limited resources, infrastructure pressures, or differing economic roles—that existing indices and framework, designed primarily for first-tier cities, fail to adequately address. This dissertation addresses the gap by developing a Spatial Urban Quality Framework (SUQF) for second-tier Swiss cities, drawing on lessons from first-tier city indices and other planning frameworks to promote equitable social, environmental, and economic growth.
This dissertation pursues three concise objectives, each aligned with its core research questions:
1. Identify key spatial urban quality indicators—such as accessibility, green infrastructure, land-use mix, and network connectivity—contextualized for second-tier Swiss cities by adapting evaluation metrics from first-tier city indices.
2. Develop and test stakeholder-driven methodologies that integrate decision sciences to measure and refine these indicators, ensuring they reflect local priorities.
3. Embed these methodologies into Switzerland’s spatial planning system and demonstrate their applicability across different planning phases to shape urban policies and design guidelines.
Unlike traditional indices focused solely on competitiveness, the Spatial Urban Quality Framework (SUQF) offers a novel, stakeholder-driven approach that equips architects, planners, developers, and administrators with a robust methodology to enhance spatial urban quality in second-tier Swiss cities.
It uses a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative techniques to construct the Spatial Urban Quality Framework (SUQF). Qualitatively a decision matrix is developed using indicators derived from first-tier city indices and other human centred planning frameworks, which can then be contextualised through stakeholder surveys and geospatial data. On the quantitative side, three preparatory methodologies are established for evaluating these indicators:
• Method 1: Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) implemented via the Value Decisions App,
• Method 2: MCDA using R and QGIS for spatial and statistical analysis,
• Method 3: Spatial analysis conducted through ArcGIS Urban.
These methodologies are designed for scalable application that can be directly adapted to assess urban quality indicators in second-tier cities. The dissertation develops foundational spatial models for these three Swiss cities. These models incorporate geospatial datasets across multiple scales—neighbourhood, core-city, and agglomeration. This preparatory work lays the foundation for subsequent research or practical implementation, ensuring the framework’s flexibility and relevance for future urban quality assessments.
This dissertation presents the Spatial Urban Quality Framework (SUQF), an innovative methodological framework developed to advance urban planning practices in second-tier Swiss cities. The research addresses a critical gap in urban studies by adapting urban quality indicators—initially formulated for larger, first-tier cities—to the distinct socio-economic and spatial contexts of smaller urban centres. This adaptation represents a significant shift from conventional urban indices. The SUQF integrates stakeholder engagement with advanced analytical techniques, notably Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and geospatial technologies such as ArcGIS Urban. This combination yields a robust and scalable framework capable of evaluating urban quality across multiple dimensions—social, environmental, and economic. Unlike traditional indices that serve primarily as diagnostic tools, the SUQF offers a hands-on methodology, equipping urban planners and policymakers with actionable insights to inform policy formulation and design guidelines. Looking ahead, the framework’s preparatory methodologies hold promise for further refinement and application within the case study cities, with potential for broader extension to second-tier urban centres worldwide.
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published
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Editor
Contributors
Examiner : Menz, Sacha
Examiner : Montgomery, Jason
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Pages / Article No.
Publisher
ETH Zurich
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Subject
second-tier cities, urban quality framework, spatial planning, Switzerland, stakeholder engagement, MCDA, geospatial analysis, urban sustainability, mixed-methods, urban development
Organisational unit
03696 - Menz, Sacha / Menz, Sacha