Enhancing transit-oriented development sustainability through the integrated node-place-ecology (NPE) model

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) offers a strategic approach to enhance urban environmental sustainability. The node-place model, which is a classic analytical framework within the TOD typology, forms a foundation for evaluating TOD effectiveness. However, this model has been critiqued for its limited adaptability and static nature. This study seeks to bridge these gaps by presenting a novel, timeline-based node-place-ecology (NPE) model, integrating K-means clustering and Sustainable Development Line (SDL) testing to evaluate the sustainability progress of 96 TOD stations from 2011 to 2019. Results indicate that over the span of eight years, the 96 stations within the Tokyo metropolitan area have generally exhibited a positive trend. Additionally, we observed an increasing trend of monopolization in the node, place, and ecology dimensions at the stations located in the metropolitan center. This study underscores the necessity for dynamic TOD models in urban planning, offering insights into the sustainable evolution of transit hubs.