A Spatially-Informed Healthy Location Index for Assessing Urban Living Environment

Urban health outcomes are shaped by the complex interplay of environmental, social, and spatial factors. This study develops a Healthy Location Index (HLI) to assess spatial health risks by integrating health-promoting (HPSVs) and health-restraining (HRSVs) spatial variables using geospatial analysis and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Taking Kolkata, India, as a case study, the HLI incorporates factors such as green and blue spaces, built-up density, air quality, and the distribution of alcohol and fast-food outlets to create a spatial model of urban health. The study utilizes remotely sensed and administrative datasets (e.g., Landsat-derived NDVI, NDBI, NDWI, Point-of-Interest data) and validates the HLI against COVID-19 containment zones (June 2020–January 2021) using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results indicate that areas with high HLI scores—characterized by greater access to green spaces and lower exposure to environmental stressors—were less likely to be containment zones, suggesting a meaningful relationship between spatial health factors and urban resilience. However, the study acknowledges potential confounding variables, such as socioeconomic disparities, population density, and healthcare accessibility, which may influence health outcomes. The findings underscore the global applicability of the HLI framework in urban planning, public health policy, and epidemiological risk assessment, offering a scalable model for cities facing rapid urbanization and environmental challenges.