Three key vital signs make up the 'urban pulse' of a city

Researchers have identified three key vital signs of urban pulse: urbanization is spiky (development occurs in intense bursts rather than smoothly), cyclical (neighborhoods go through boom-and-rest cycles), and asynchronous (cities don't grow uniformly across all areas). The Urban Pulse framework analyzes satellite data from NASA to measure physical transformations like new construction, infrastructure improvements, and demolition at the neighborhood level. By monitoring these vital signs, governments can identify early warning signs of urban decay or unsustainable sprawl before crises become entrenched.

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-06-09