Experimenting System Dynamics Model to Assess the Impacts of Urban Regeneration Processes

Cities are complex and dynamic systems characterized by a high level of uncertainty and vulnerability that involve social, economic, and environmental components. In this context, both urban regeneration and urban transformation processes have to face complexity and uncertainty. This research belongs to the wide research field that aims at developing new evaluation approaches that are able to manage both the complexity and the impacts of the urban regeneration process. This paper proposes the System Dynamics Model (SDM) to analyze an urban regeneration process of the Aurora neighborhood, in the city of Turin. The aim is to identify the mutual relationships that occur among the social, economic, and urban components that are involved in this process. In detail, this research gives specific attention to the analysis of social components of the area with the aim of focusing on the multiculturality of the area under investigation. The result is a preliminary insight that identifies the probable multidimensional impacts generated by the regeneration project. This application underlines thus the suitability of the SDM to support the decision-makers in the development of urban strategies within the perspective of a sustainable, multi-cultural and inclusive city.