Measurement of transit-oriented development (TOD) using GIS technique: a case study

The renewed enthusiasm for sustainable development and interest in transit needs to prompt the advancement of new transit-oriented development (TOD). Under the “smart cities” mission, smart growth development is being built globally. Government initiates many programs to increase ridership in public transport. However, investment in infrastructure such as for TOD without understanding the existing situation is complex. In any case, there are only a few studies that emphasize station-level planning. Our study mainly focuses on the measurement of station-level TOD on a quantitative scale. A case study of Bhopal, India, has been done. This study considers seven criteria: density, diversity, mixed-use of land, walkability, travel behavior of TOD residents, street block pattern, and economic development. The study presents an approach based on a geographical information system (GIS) for sustainable urban development. Multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) is utilized to determine the level of TOD for Bhopal based on the chosen criteria. MCE results show the quantitative value of performance measures, which can be used to rank and compare different stations accordingly. Measuring the TOD level is helpful for efficient, sustainable planning. This examination will provide sustainable station-level planning for the urban planner. © 2021, Saudi Society for Geosciences.