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Chapter 10
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-2446-5.ch010
ABSTRACT
Several indicators are developed to support the decision-making processes in public policy for urban
planning. Some of them seek to measure the quality of urban life. For example, the city of Belo Horizonte
developed and uses an index called Quality of Urban Life Index, which identifes inequalities within the
city, and therefore, those areas that need more investment. This index is calculated by measuring the
availability of various kinds of services (e.g. education, infrastructure) and their accessibility (based
on travel time and mobility data). For that, data from several government sources must be collected
and used, which can delay updates of index values. In this chapter, the authors describe how data from
Location-Based Social Networks (LBSN) can be used to calculate urban indicators, and hence, how
they could be used as an alternative data source for estimating quality of urban life with faster results
to support urban planning policies.
Quality of Urban Life Index
From Location-Based
Social Networks Data:
A Case Study in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Rodrigo Smarzaro
Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil
Tiago França Melo de Lima
Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil
Clodoveu Augusto Davis Jr.
Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil