Applying Multi-Criteria Analysis to Evaluate Urban Districts in the Context of the 15-Minute City Concept

The 15-minute city concept aims to ensure that residents have convenient access to essential urban functions—such as education, healthcare, green spaces, retail, and public transport—within a short walk or bike ride. While the idea is gaining popularity in urban planning discourse, there remains a lack of spatially explicit, quantitative methods for evaluating the alignment of existing urban districts with this concept. This study addresses this gap by proposing a multi-criteria assessment method that integrates spatial indicators within a GIS-based framework. Using Katowice, Poland, as a case study, seven functional criteria were analysed and normalised to create a composite index reflecting each district’s compatibility with the 15-minute city model. The results reveal considerable disparities between central and peripheral districts, with central areas such as Śródmieście and Koszutka achieving the highest scores, while southern districts like Murcki or Zarzecze perform significantly lower. These findings demonstrate the method’s potential to support urban policy decisions related to spatial equity and resource allocation. The study also identifies key limitations, such as the inclusion of uninhabited zones in the analysis, and outlines directions for future research, including refinement of spatial units and incorporation of population distribution data.