atlas of urban vulnerability in spain: methodology and contents

Atlas of Urban Vulnerability in Spain. 

Methodology and contents. 

(January 2012 Edition). 

Ministerio de Fomento. Ministry of Public Works.

INDEX: 

1. Introduction. 

2. Methodology and contents. 

Domain 1: Urban Vulnerability Indicators. 

Domain 2: Contextual analysis of Urban Vulnerability Indicators. 

Domain 3: Urban Inequity Indexes. 

Domain 4: Urban Vulnerability Synthetic Indexes (Multiple Criteria 

classification) 

Information contained in Symbols tab. 

3. Working Team Credits.

1. INTRODUCTION. 

The Atlas of Urban Vulnerability in Spain is a part of the Observatory of Urban 

Vulnerability in Spain, a long-term project by the Spanish Ministry of Public Works, 

including different studies related to Urban Vulnerability in Spain, following the 

statements of Article 108 about Information serving for public policies for a sustainable 

urban development, in the Law 2/2011 of Sustainable Economy. 

The Atlas of Urban Vulnerability in Spain allows the analysis of urban vulnerability at 

Census Section level in every Spanish municipality. The Census section is the 

smallest population unit in the Spanish Censuses. The Atlas has been developed 

based on the data available from the 2001 Population and Housing Census. It is 

foreseen to update the Atlas with the results of the new 2011 Census. 

For each one of the 34.251 Census Sections in the 8.108 Spanish municipalities, the 

Atlas of Urban Vulnerability in Spain offers a total of 96 vulnerability indicators and 

indexes, organised in 4 domains: 

Urban Vulnerability Indicators. This domain contains 21 thematic maps, 

corresponding to 21 Urban Vulnerability Indicators, grouped in four chapters: 

Sociodemographic Vulnerability (5 indicators), Socioeconomic Vulnerability (6 

indicators), Housing Vulnerability (5 indicators) and Subjective perception Vulnerability 

(5 indicators). Out of these 21 indicators, 3 are considered to be Basic Indicators of 

Urban Vulnerability (BIUV): Percentage of unemployed population, Percentage of 

illiterate (or without basic education) population, and Percentage of population in 

dwellings without toilet or WC. 

Contextual Analysis of Urban Vulnerability Indicators. This domain allows making 

maps comparing the Urban Vulnerability Indicators of each Census Section (or 

minimum population unit) with the municipal, regional (Autonomous Communities) or 

national context. It is possible to represent the number of times that the value of each 

indicator in the Census Section Unit is above or below the value of the same indicator 

in the municipality, the region (Autonomous Community) or the national value. 

Urban Inequity Indexes. Two synthetic Inequity Indexes are provided, calculated 

combining the 3 Basic Indicators of Urban Vulnerability (BIUV): IDS (Index of 

Socioeconomic Inequity) and IDU (Index of Urban Inequity). Each of them can be 

referred to the municipality, the region (Autonomous Community) or to Spain. 

Urban Vulnerability Synthetic Indexes (Multiple Criteria Classification). It is 

possible to represent urban vulnerability Multiple Criteria Classification, classifying 

each census section at national or at regional (Autonomous Community) level. For 

each one of these two levels, 5 synthetic Indexes are provided: Global criteria 

Classification, Sociodemographic criteria Classification, Socioeconomic criteria 

Classification, Housing criteria Classification and Subjective perception criteria 

Classification. 

ATLAS OF URBAN VULNERABILITY IN SPAIN. 

METHODOLOGY AND CONTENTS. PAG. 3

Moreover, users can customize their own analysis, overlapping symbolic 

representations of up to 30 of the most important quantitative features releted to 

vulnerability (population, dwellings, etc) to the coropleth maps. 

For an optimal visualization of the text in the web, it is recommended to adjust 

the screen resolution to a minimum of 1.280x1.024 pixels. 



2. METHODOLOGY AND CONTENTS. 

DOMAIN 1: URBAN VULNERABILITY INDICATORS. 

This domain contains 21 thematic maps, corresponding to 20+1 1 Urban Vulnerability 

Indicators, grouped in four chapters: Sociodemographic Vulnerability (5 indicators), 

Socioeconomic Vulnerability (5+1 indicators), Housing Vulnerability (5 indicators) and 

Subjective perception Vulnerability (5 indicators). Its methodology is described below. 

Out of these 21 indicators, 3 are considered to be Basic Indicators of Urban 

Vulnerability (BIUV): Percentage of unemployed population, Percentage of illiterate 

(or without basic education) population, and Percentage of population in dwellings 

without toilet or WC. These three indicators are the ones used in the Urban Analysis 

of Vulnerable Neighbourhoods in Spain (based on the 1991 and 2001 Censuses) for 

the identification of vulnerable neighbourhoods, when the value of these indicators in 

the Census sections included in the vulnerable neighbourhood- is above certain 

reference value with respect to the average national value 2 . 

For each one of the 20+1 indicators, the thematic maps show the values of the 

indicator of the Census sections visualized in the screen grouped in quantiles (equal 

count) of 5 ranges (each of them with a similar number of Census section, which can 

be seen inside the brackets). The user can customize by different means (manually, or 

using the Jenks (K-Means), multiples of the standard deviation, or logarithm+multiples 

of the standard deviation methods) the number of ranges and the threshold values to 

1 Two indicators referring to the Percentage of unemployed young population are presented, 

using different methodologies: (7) Percentage of unemployed young population and (7.2) 

Percentage of unemployed young population (2). 

2 The vulnerability reference value in regards to the indicators Percentage of unemployed 

population and Percentage of illiterate (or without basic education) population is established 

when the value of the indicator is 50% above the national average value. In the case of the 

Percentage of population in dwellings without toilet or WC, the vulnerability reference value is 

the double of the national average value. 

The Percentage of unemployed population in Spain in 2001 Census was 14.20%. Thus, 

the reference value for identifying urban vulnerability is considered to be 21.30% (28% 

in 1991). 

The Percentage of illiterate (or without basic education) population in Spain in 2001 

Census was 15.30%.Thus, the reference value for identifying urban vulnerability is 

considered to be 22.95% (28% in 1991). 

The Percentage of population in dwellings without toilet or WC in Spain in 2001 Census 

was 1.00%. Thus, the reference value for identifying urban vulnerability is considered to 

be 2.00%. In 1991 the reference values were: 2% without toilet, 3% without WC and 5% 

without bath or shower (as they were not aggregated in just one single indicator). 



e represented. It is recommended, for example, to choose the threshold values of the 

new ranges referring to the values of each indicator in Spain and its multiples 3 . 

All the indicators have been calculated using data available from the Population and 

Housing Census of 2001, carried by the National Statistics Institute (Instituto Nacional 

de Estadística: INE). There follows a description of the calculation methodology used 

for each Indicator, and the values corresponding to Spain for each of them: 

SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC VUL NERABILITY. 

(1) Percentage of elderly people aged 75 or more. 

Percentage of elderly people aged 75 or more, out of the total population. (%). 

The value in Spain (2001) is: 7.40%. 

(2) Percentage of households with only one person aged 64 or more. 

Percentage of households formed by only one person aged 64 or more, out of 

the total number of households. (%) 


(3) Percentage of households with only one adult (single-parent) and a one or 

more persons under 18 years old. 

Percentage of households with only one adult (single-parent) and a one or more 

persons under 18 years old, out of the total number of households. (%) 


(4) Percentage of foreign population. 

Percentage of population with foreign nationality, out of the total population. (%) 


(5) Percentage of foreign child population. 

Percentage of population under 15 years old, with foreign nationality, out of the 

total population under 15 years old. (%) 


SOCIOECONOMIC VULNERABILITY. 

(6) Percentage of unemployed population. (Basic Indicator of Urban 

Vulnerability). 

Percentage of the population aged 16 or more in situation of unemployment, out 

of the total economically active population aged 16 or more. (%) 


3 For example, in the case of considering 4 ranges, it is suggested to use the following thresholds: 

values under half of the value of the indicator for Spain; values between the half and the value of the 

indicator for Spain; values between the value for Spain and its double; and values above the double 

of the value for Spain. 



(7) Percentage of unemployed young population. 

Percentage of the population between 16 and 29 years old in situation of 

unemployment, out of the total economically active population between 16 and 

29 years old. (%) 


(7.2) Percentage of unemployed young population (2). 

Percentage of the population between 16 and 29 years old in situation of 

unemployment, out of the total population between 16 and 29 years old. (%) 


(8) Percentage of contingent workers. 

Percentage of persons in employment with a contingent job, out of the total 

employed population. (%) 


(9) Percentage of workers without qualification. 

Percentage of persons in employment without qualification or with low 

qualification, out of the total population in employment. 


(10) Percentage of illiterate (or without basic education) population. (Basic 

Indicator of Urban Vulnerability). 

Percentage of illiterate (or without basic education) population aged 16 or more, 

out of the total population aged 16 or more. (%) 


HOUSING VULNERABILITY. 

(11) Percentage of dwellings with less than 30 m² of effective living area. 

Percentage of familiy dwellings with less than 30 m² of effective living area, out 

of the total number of familiy dwellings. (%) 


(12) Average effective living area by inhabitant (m²). 

Average effective living area by inhabitant in family dwellings. (m²) 


(13) Percentage of population in dwellings without toilet or WC. (Basic Indicator 

of Urban Vulnerability). 

Percentage of population living in family dwellings without toilet or WC, out of 

the total population in family dwellings. (%) 


(14) Percentage of dwellings in ruined or deficient buildings. 

Percentage of family dwellings in ruined or deficient buildings, out of the total 

number of family dwellings. (%) 

The value in Spain (2001) is: 2.10 %. 

(15) Percentage of dwellings in buildings built before 1951 

Percentage of family dwellings in buildings built before 1951, out of the total 

number of family dwellings. (%) 

The value in Spain (2001) is: 17.70 %. 



SUBJETIVE PERCEPTION VULNERABILITY. 

(16) Percentage of population with external noises problems. 

Percentage of population living in family dwellings whose reference person 

considers that the dwelling is affected by a problem of external noises, out of 

the total population living in family dwellings. (%) 


(17) Percentage of population with air pollution problems in the neighbourhood. 


considers that the dwelling is affected by air pollution, smoke or bad smells 

coming from industry, traffic, etc., out of the total population living in family 

dwellings. (%) 


(18) Percentage of population with bad transport /communication infrastructures 

problem. 


considers that the dwelling is affected by a problem of bad 

transport/communication infrastructures, out of the total population living in 

family dwellings. (%) 


(19) Percentage of population with lack of green open spaces problem. 


considers that the surroundings of the dwelling have a lack of green open 

spaces (parks, gardens), out of the total population living in family dwellings. 

(%) 


(20) Percentage of population with delinquency problems in the neighbourhood. 


considers that the neighbourhood has a problem of delinquency or vandalism, 

out of the total population living in family dwellings. (%) 




DOMAIN 2: CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF URBAN VULNERABILITY 

INDICATORS. 

This domain allows making contextual analysis maps, comparing the 20+1 Urban 

Vulnerability Indicators of each Census Section (or minimum population unit) with the 

municipal, regional (Autonomous Communities) or national context. It is possible to 

represent the number of times that the value of each indicator in the Census Section is 

above or below the value of the same indicator in the municipality, the region 

(Autonomous Community) or the national value. 

For each of these comparison contexts (municipality, regional Autonomous 

Community- or national), the maps represent the number of times that the value (%) of 

each indicator for the Census Section is above or below the comparison value (%) for 

the municipality, the region or the national value for Spain, grouped in 5 categories: 

· >1 (Census sections in which the value of the chosen indicator is one time 

above the comparison value municipal, regional or national-); 

· Between 0.5 and 1(Census sections in which the value of the chosen indicator 

is between 0.5 and 1 times above the comparison value municipal, regional or 

national); 

· Between 0 and 0.5 (Census sections in which the value of the chosen indicator 

is between 0 and 0.5 times above the comparison value municipal, regional or 

national); 

· =0 (Census sections in which the value of the chosen indicator is exactly the 

same of the comparison value municipal, regional or national); 

· Between 0 and -0.5 (Census sections in which the value of the chosen indicator 

is between 0 and 0.5 times under the comparison value municipal, regional or 

national); 

· < -0.5 (Census sections in which the value of the chosen indicator is under 1 

time the comparison value municipal, regional or national). 

All the indicators provided have been calculated by the Ministry of Public works, using 

the data available from the Population and Housing Census of 2001, carried by the 

National Statistics Institute (Instituto Nacional de Estadística: INE). 

COMPARISON WITH MUNICIPAL VALUES. 

(21) (Comparison between the Census section value and the value in the 

municipality of the) Percentage of elderly people aged 75 or more. 

Number of times that the value of the percentage (%) of elderly people aged 75 

or more, out of the total population, in the Census section is above or under the 

value of the same indicator (%) in the municipality. 

It is calculated dividing the difference between the value of the indicator (%) in 

the Census section and the value of the same indicator (%) in the municipality, 

by the value of the same indicator (%) in the municipality. 


municipality of the) Percentage of households with only one person aged 64 or 

more. 

Number of times that the value of the percentage (%) of households formed by 

only one person aged 64 or more, out of the total number of households, in the 



Census section is above or under the value of the same indicator (%) in the 

municipality. 





municipality of the) Percentage of households with only one adult (single-parent) 

and a one or more persons under 18 years old. 

Number of times that the value of the percentage (%) of households with only 

one adult (single-parent) and a one or more persons under 18 years old, out of 

the total number of households, in the Census section is above or under the 






municipality of the) Percentage of foreign population. 

Number of times that the value of the percentage (%) of population with foreign 

nationality, out of the total population, in the Census section is above or under 

the value of the same indicator (%) in the municipality. 





municipality of the) Percentage of foreign child population. 

Number of times that the value of the percentage (%) of population under 15 

years old, with foreign nationality, out of the total population under 15 years old, 

in the Census section is above or under the value of the same indicator (%) in 

the municipality. 





municipality of the) Percentage of unemployed population. (Basic Indicator of 

Urban Vulnerability). 

Number of times that the value of the percentage (%) of the population aged 16 

or more in situation of unemployment, out of the total economically active 

population aged 16 or more, in the Census section is above or under the value 

of the same indicator (%) in the municipality. 







municipality of the) Percentage of unemployed young population. 

Number of times that the value of the percentage (%) of the population between 

16 and 29 years old in situation of unemployment, out of the total economically 

active population between 16 and 29 years old, in the Census section is above 

or under the value of the same indicator (%) in the municipality. 




(27.2) (Comparison between the Census section value and the value in the 

municipality of the) Percentage of unemployed young population (2). 


16 and 29 years old in situation of unemployment, out of the total population 

between 16 and 29 years old, in the Census section is above or under the value 

of the same indicator (%) in the municipality. 





municipality of the) Percentage of contingent workers. 

Number of times that the value of the percentage (%) of persons in employment 

with a contingent job, out of the total employed population, in the Census 

section is above or under the value of the same indicator (%) in the municipality. 





municipality of the) Percentage of workers without qualification. 


without qualification or with low qualification, out of the total population in 

employment, in the Census section is above or under the value of the same 

indicator (%) in the municipality. 





municipality of the) Percentage of Illiterate (or without basic education) 

population. (Basic Indicator of Urban Vulnerability). 

Number of times that the value of the percentage (%) of illiterate (or without 

basic education) population aged 16 or more, out of the total population aged 

16 or more, in the Census section is above or under the value of the same 








municipality of the) Percentage of dwellings with less than 30 m² of effective 

living area. 

Number of times that the value of the percentage (%) of familiy dwellings with 

less than 30 m² of effective living area, out of the total number of familiy 

dwellings, in the Census section is above or under the value of the same 






municipality of the) Average effective living area per inhabitant (m²). 

Number of times that the average effective living area by inhabitant in family 

dwellings. (m²) in the Census section is above or under the average effective 

living area by inhabitant (m²) in the municipality. 

It is calculated dividing the difference between the average effective living area 

by inhabitant in family dwellings (m²) in the Census section and the average 

value of the same indicator (m²) in the municipality, by the average effective 

living area by inhabitant in family dwellings (m²) in the municipality. 


municipality of the) Percentage of population in dwellings without toilet or WC. 

(Basic Indicator of Urban Vulnerability). 

Number of times that the value of the percentage (%) of population living in 

family dwellings without toilet or WC, out of the total population in family 







municipality of the) Percentage of dwellings in ruined or deficient buildings. 

Number of times that the value of the percentage (%) of family dwellings in 

ruined or deficient buildings, out of the total number of family dwellings, in the 


municipality. 





municipality of the) Percentage of dwellings in buildings built before 1951. 


buildings built before 1951, out of the total number of family dwellings, in the 


municipality. 







municipality of the) Percentage of population with external noises problems. 


family dwellings whose reference person considers that the dwelling is affected 

by a problem of external noises, out of the total population living in family 







municipality of the) Percentage of population with air pollution problems in the 

neighbourhood. 



by air pollution, smoke or bad smells coming from industry, traffic, etc., out of 

the total population living in family dwellings, in the Census section is above or 

under the value of the same indicator (%) in the municipality. 





municipality of the) Percentage of population with bad transport /communication 

infrastructures problem. 



by a problem of bad transport/communication infrastructures, out of the total 

population living in family dwellings, in the Census section is above or under the 






municipality of the) Percentage of population with lack of green open spaces 

problem. 

Number of times that the value of the percentage (%)of population living in 

family dwellings whose reference person considers that the surroundings of the 

dwelling have a lack of green open spaces (parks, gardens), out of the total 









municipality of the) Percentage of population with delinquency problems in the 

neighbourhood. 


family dwellings whose reference person considers that the neighbourhood has 

a problem of delinquency or vandalism, out of the total population living in family 






COMPARISON WITH REGIONAL VALUES (CC.AA: ATONOMOUS COMMUNITIES). 

(41) (Comparison between the Census section value and the value in the region 

Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of elderly people aged 75 or more. 



value of the same indicator (%) in the region (Autonomous Community). 


the Census section and the value of the same indicator (%) in the region, by the 



Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of households with only one 

person aged 64 or more. 



Census section is above or under the value of the same indicator (%)in the 

region (Autonomous Community). 





Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of households with only one adult 

(single-parent) and a one or more persons under 18 years old. 









Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of foreign population. 



the value of the same indicator (%) in the region (Autonomous Community). 







Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of foreign child population. 



in the Census section is above or under the value of the same indicator (%)in 

the region (Autonomous Community). 





Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of unemployed population. (Basic 





of the same indicator (%)in the region (Autonomous Community). 





Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of unemployed young population. 




or under the value of the same indicator (%) in the region (Autonomous 

Community). 




(47.2) (Comparison between the Census section value and the value in the region 

Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of unemployed young population 

(2). 




of the same indicator (%)in the region (Autonomous Community). 





Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of contingent workers. 





section is above or under the value of the same indicator (%)in the region 

(Autonomous Community). 





Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of workers without qualification. 




indicator (%) in the region (Autonomous Community). 





Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of Illiterate (or without basic 

education) population. (Basic Indicator of Urban Vulnerability). 




indicator (%)in the region (Autonomous Community). 





Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of dwellings with less than 30 m² of 

effective living area. 

Number of times that the value of the percentage (%) of familiy dwellings with 

less than 30 m² of effective living area, out of the total number of familiy 







Autonomous Community- of the) Average effective living area per inhabitant 

(m²). 



living area by inhabitant (m²) in the region (Autonomous Community). 



value of the same indicator (m²) in the region (Autonomous Community), by the 

average effective living area by inhabitant in family dwellings (m²) in the region 

(Autonomous Community). 




Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of population in dwellings without 

toilet or WC. (Basic Indicator of Urban Vulnerability). 









Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of dwellings in ruined or deficient 

buildings. 









Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of dwellings in buildings built 

before 1951. 









Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of population with external noises 

problems. 










Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of population with air pollution 

problems in the neighbourhood. 







under the value of the same indicator (%) in the region (Autonomous 

Community). 





Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of population with bad transport 

/communication infrastructures problem. 





value of the same indicator (%)in the region (Autonomous Community). 





Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of population with lack of green 

open spaces problem. 





value of the same indicator (%)in the region (Autonomous Community). 





Autonomous Community- of the) Percentage of population with delinquency 

problems in the neighbourhood. 









COMPARISON WITH NATIONAL VALUES. 

(61) (Comparison between the Census section value and the national value of 

the) Percentage of elderly people aged 75 or more. 



value of the same indicator (%) in Spain. 


the Census section and the national value of the same indicator (%), by the 

national value of the same indicator (%). 




the) Percentage of households with only one person aged 64 or more. 



Census section is above or under the value of the same indicator (%)in Spain. 





the) Percentage of households with only one adult (single-parent) and a one or 

more persons under 18 years old. 




value of the same indicator (%)in Spain. 





the) Percentage of foreign population. 



the value of the same indicator (%)in Spain. 





the) Percentage of foreign child population. 



in the Census section is above or under the value of the same indicator (% )in 

Spain. 





the) Percentage of unemployed population. (Basic Indicator of Urban 

Vulnerability). 




of the same indicator (%) in Spain. 







the) Percentage of unemployed young population. 




or under the value of the same indicator (%)in Spain. 




(67.2) (Comparison between the Census section value and the national value of 

the) Percentage of unemployed young population (2). 




of the same indicator (%)in Spain. 





the) Percentage of contingent workers. 



section is above or under the value of the same indicator (%) in Spain. 





the) Percentage of workers without qualification. 




indicator (%) in Spain. 





the) Percentage of Illiterate (or without basic education) population. (Basic 





indicator (%)in Spain. 







the) Percentage of dwellings with less than 30 m² of effective living area. 

Number of times that the value of the percentage (%) of family dwellings with 

less than 30 m² of effective living area, out of the total number of family 







the) Average effective living area per inhabitant (m²). 



living area by inhabitant (m²) in Spain. 



value of the same indicator (m²) in Spain, by the average effective living area by 

inhabitant in family dwellings (m²) in Spain. 


the) Percentage of population in dwellings without toilet or WC. (Basic Indicator 

of Urban Vulnerability). 









the) Percentage of dwellings in ruined or deficient buildings. 



Census section is above or under the value of the same indicator (%) in Spain. 





the) Percentage of dwellings in buildings built before 1951. 



Census section is above or under the value of the same indicator (%) in Spain. 







the) Percentage of population with external noises problems. 










the) Percentage of population with air pollution problems in the neighbourhood. 





under the value of the same indicator (%) in Spain. 





the) Percentage of population with bad transport /communication infrastructures 

problem. 










the) Percentage of population with lack of green open spaces problem. 










the) Percentage of population with delinquency problems in the neighbourhood. 













DOMAIN 3: URBAN INEQUITY INDEXES. 

Two synthetic Inequity Indexes are provided, calculated combining the 3 Basic 

Indicators of Urban Vulnerability (BIUV): IDS (Index of Socioeconomic Inequity) and 

IDU (Index of Urban Inequity). Each of them can be referred to the municipality, the 

region (Autonomous Community) or to Spain. 

This domain provides two (synthetic) Inequity Indexes, calculated from the 3 Basic 

Indicators of Urban Vulnerability (BIUV): IDS (Index of Socioeconomic Inequity) and 

IDU (Index of Urban Inequity). Each of these indices can be referenced to the 

municipality, the region (Autonomous Community) or to Spain. 

First of all, the 3 Basic Indicators of Urban Vulnerability (BIUV) of each Census section 

are standardized using the "chi square" method. Depending on the context they are 

referred to (the municipality, the Autonomous Community or Spain), the standardization 

is carried with respect to the respective values of the indicator for the municipality, for 

the autonomous region, or for Spain. This means that for each Census section the 

standardized value of each Basic Urban Vulnerability Indicator (BIUV) is calculated 

dividing the square of the difference between the value of the BIUV for the Census 

section and the BIUV value for the municipality, the Autonomous Community or for 

Spain, divided by the BIUV value for the municipality, the Autonomous Community or 

for Spain. 

Standardized value of each BIUV using the chi-square method in each Census section 

in respect to the municipality, the Autonomous Community or Spain = 

(BIUV Value in the Census section BIUV Value in the municipality, the Autonomous 

Community or Spain) 2 / (BIUV Value in the municipality, the Autonomous Community or 

Spain). 

Once the values are standardized, then a logarithmic transformation is applied to adjust 

their distribution, by the calculation of its base 10 logarithm. 

Finally, IDS, the Index of Socioeconomic Inequity, is obtained by the addition of the 

Basic Indicators of Urban Vulnerability (BIUV) "Percentage of unemployed population" 

and Percentage of illiterate (or without basic education) population, once 

standardized using the chi-square method and then applied a logarithmic 

transformation to adjust their distribution. 

IDU, the Index of Urban Inequity, is obtained by the addition of the 3 Basic Urban 

Vulnerability Indicators (BIUV) "Percentage of unemployed population", Percentage of 

illiterate (or without basic education) population and Percentage of population in 

dwellings without toilet or WC), once standardized using the chi-square method and 

then applied a logarithmic transformation to adjust their distribution. 



IDS: INDEXES OF SOCIOECONOM IC INEQUITY. 

(81) IDSM: Index of Socioeconomic Inequity at Municipal level. 

IDSM is the result of the addition of the Percentage of unemployed population 

and Percentage of illiterate (or without basic education) population (Basic 

Indicators of Urban Vulnerability), once they have been standardised with 

respect to their respective municipal values using the chi-square method, and 

applied a logarithm transformation to adjust their distribution. 

(82) IDSR: Index of Socioeconomic Inequity at Regional level. 

IDSR is the result of the addition of the Percentage of unemployed population 



respect to the values of their respective region (Autonomous Communities) 

using the chi-square method, and applied a logarithm transformation to adjust 

their distribution. 

(83) IDSN: Index of Socioeconomic Inequity at National level. 

IDSN is the result of the addition of the Percentage of unemployed population 



respect to the national values using the chi-square method, and applied a 

logarithm transformation to adjust their distribution. 

IDU: INDEX OF URBAN INEQUITY. 

(84) IDUM: Index of Urban Inequity at Municipal level. 

IDUM is the result of the addition of the 3 Basic Indicators of Urban Vulnerability 

(Percentage of unemployed population, Percentage of illiterate (or without 

basic education) population and Percentage of population in dwellings without 

toilet or WC), once they have been standardised with respect to their 

respective municipal values using the chi-square method, and applied a 

logarithm transformation to adjust their distribution. 

(85) IDUR: Index of Urban Inequity at Regional level. 

IDUR is the result of the addition of the 3 Basic Indicators of Urban Vulnerability 



toilet or WC), once they have been standardised with respect to the values of 

their respective region (Autonomous Communities) using the chi-square 

method, and applied a logarithm transformation to adjust their distribution. 

(86) IDUN: Index of Urban Inequity at National level. 

IDUN is the result of the addition of the 3 Basic Indicators of Urban Vulnerability 



toilet or WC), once they have been standardised with respect to the national 



values using the chi-square method, and applied a logarithm transformation to 

adjust their distribution. 



DOMAIN 4: URBAN VULNERABILITY SYNTHETIC INDEXES (MULTIPLE 

CRITERIA CLASSIFICATION) 

Multiple Criteria classification offers synthetic Indexes of Vulnerability composing 

different simple vulnerability indicators, which in our case are 20 +1, grouped into four 

thematic categories. Multiple Criteria classification is an alternative method to 

traditional synthetic Indexes obtained by the definition of scalar type functions that 

combine the various indicators of vulnerability by assigning a proportional weight to 

each one of the indicators 4 . 

The existence in the Atlas of 4 thematic categories of vulnerability indicators, offers the 

possibility to organise 4 thematic classifications for the partial subsets of criteria 

(Sociodemographic criteria Classification, Socioeconomic criteria Classification, 

Housing criteria Classification and Subjective perception criteria Classification) and a 

Global criteria Classification, encompassing the 20 indicators of vulnerability 

considered. 

ISVU-SD, Sociodemographic criteria Classification, includes the set of the 5 

sociodemographic indicators: (1) Percentage of elderly people aged 75 or more, 

(2) Percentage of households with only one person aged 64 or more, (3) 

Percentage of households with only one adult (single-parent) and a one or more 

persons under 18 years old, (4) Percentage of foreign population, and (5) 

Percentage of foreign child population. 

ISVU-SE, Socioeconomic criteria Classification, includes a set of 5 

socioeconomic indicators: (6) Percentage of unemployed population. (Basic 

Indicator of Urban Vulnerability), (7) Percentage of unemployed young 

population, (8) Percentage of contingent workers, (9) Percentage of workers 

without qualification, and (10) Percentage of illiterate (or without basic 

education) population. (Basic Indicator of Urban Vulnerability). 

ISVU-R, Housing criteria Classification, includes the set of the 5 residential 

indicators: (11) Percentage of dwellings with less than 30 m² of effective living 

area, (12) Average effective living area by inhabitant (m²), (13) Percentage of 

population in dwellings without toilet or WC. (Basic Indicator of Urban 

Vulnerability), (14) Percentage of dwellings in ruined or deficient buildings, and 

(15) Percentage of dwellings in buildings built before 1951. 

ISVUN-S, Subjective perception criteria Classification, includes the set of the 5 

subjective indicators: (16) Percentage of population with external noises 

problems, (17) Percentage of population with air pollution problems in the 

neighbourhood, (18) Percentage of population with bad transport 

/communication infrastructures problem, (19) Percentage of population with lack 

of green open spaces problem, and (20) Percentage of population with 

delinquency problems in the neighbourhood. 

4 The problem with this type of functions is precisely the subjectivity that exists in the 

assignment of "proportional weights" to each indicator. Multiple Criteria classification allows to 

overcome this problem. 



ISVUN-G, Global criteria Classification, includes the whole set of the 20 urban 

vulnerability indicators. 

The maps included in this domain represent the position of each Spanish Census 

section classified according to one of these five possible Multiple Criteria 

classifications. Taking into account that each classification is performed on two 

different universes (classifying every Census section with respect to the regional 

Autonomous Community- or national context), there are 10 maps available. 

From the methodological point of view, the Multiple Criteria classification consists in 

grouping the elements of a set into equivalence classes or ranges, attending to the 

value of p indicators or magnitudes, assigning the same global value to each of the 

element of each class or range. 

The classification of a set of elements by an indicator or criterion A, is different from the 

classifications established by the criterion or indicators C and B. Thus, an element "a" 

can be placed before another element "b" if classified using A indicator, but placed 

behind when using indicators B or C. Multiple criteria classification method establishes, 

in a mathematical way, groups of elements which are "not worse" within each other. 

This means that they situated in positions or ranges, according to different criteria, 

which do not establish if they are "better" or "worse" according to this criteria than 

those in the same position, but certainly not worse than others situated in a lower 

position. 

Thus, let C be a finite set, in which each and every one of its elements can have p 

scalar values V1,. . . , Vp, assigned. Each of these values represents the performance 

of the element considered regarding a certain criterion. From now, we will assume that 

one element is most suitable according to the i criterion when the value Vi is highest. 

For any a, b ϵ C, we will say that a is strictly preferible than b or a dominates b-, 

a b, if and only if Vi(a) Vi(b) for i ϵ {1, 2, . . . , p} and also Ǝj such that Vj(a) > Vj (b). 

This means that a is not worse than b under any criterion of the whole set considered 

and, also, a is strictly better than b under a certain criterion j. 

To calculate the ranges or classes of equivalence, considering a set of elements C 

and a set of criteria or characteristics P, the following recursive algorithm has to be 

applied: 

1. C1 C, i 1. 

2. The optimal class or range for P is composed of every element a ϵ Ci, for which are 

there not other element b ϵ Ci, such as b a. Let Oi be such a class or range, then: 

a) If Oi=Ci, the sets O1, ...., Oi are the ranges or classes of equivalences 

looked for: END. 

b) In any other case, Ci+1=Ci-Oi, i i+1, repeat 2. 

For each one of the 5 set of criteria considered (Sociodemographic, Socioeconomic, 

Housing, Subjective or Global) and for each of the two possible universes (Spain, or 

the respective Autonomous Community), the maps represent the value of the 

respective Urban Vulnerability Synthetic Index (ISVU) for each set of criteria, in a rank 

between 0 and 1. 

The methodology for the calculation of the ISVU of each Census section, for each set 

of criteria considered (G: global, SD: sociodemographic, SE: socioeconomic, R: 



housing or S: subjective perception) and for each of the two universes of comparison 

(N: Spain, or R: the respective Autonomous Community), is based on a vectorial 

classification using the recursive algorithm already described, with the c set of criteria, 

resulting in the establishment of equivalence classes or ranges. If C is the total number 

of classes and k is the class of the Census section i, its Urban Vulnerability Synthetic 

Index (ISVU) is: 

ISVUi=(C-k+1)/C being ISVUi ϵ [1/C , 1] 

The rank of ISVU is between 0 and 1, being 0 less vulnerable and 1 more vulnerable. 

MULTIPLE CRITERIA CL ASSIFICATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL. 

(87) ISVUN-G: Global criteria Classification. 

ISVUN-G: Urban Vulnerability Synthetic Index. Multiple criteria Global 

classification at national level according to the complete set of the 20 Urban 

Vulnerability Indicators. 

(Rank between 0=less vulnerable and 1=more vulnerable). 

(88) ISVUN-SD: Sociodemographic criteria Classification. 

ISVUN-SD: Urban Vulnerability Synthetic Index. Multiple criteria classification at 

national level according to the set of 5 Sociodemographic Vulnerability 

Indicators. 


(89) ISVUN-SE: Socioeconomic criteria Classification. 

ISVUN-SE: Urban Vulnerability Synthetic Index. Multiple criteria classification at 

national level according to the set of 5 Socioeconomic Vulnerability Indicators. 


(90) ISVUN-R: Housing criteria Classification. 

ISVUN-R: Urban Vulnerability Synthetic Index. Multiple criteria classification at 

national level according to the set of 5 Housing Vulnerability Indicators. 


(91) ISVUN-S: Subjective perception criteria Classification. 

ISVUN-S: Urban Vulnerability Synthetic Index. Multiple criteria classification at 

national level according to the set of 5 Subjective perception Indicators. 




MULTIPLE CRITERIA C LASSIFICATION AT REGIONAL LEVEL (CC.AA.) 

(92) ISVUR-G: Global criteria Classification. 

ISVUR-G: Urban Vulnerability Synthetic Index. Multiple criteria Global 

classification at regional level according to the complete set of the 20 Urban 

Vulnerability Indicators. 


(93) ISVUR-SD: Sociodemographic criteria Classification. 

ISVUR-SD: Urban Vulnerability Synthetic Index. Multiple criteria classification at 

regional level according to the set of 5 Sociodemographic Vulnerability 

Indicators. 


(94) ISVUR-SE: Socioeconomic criteria Classification. 

ISVUR-SE: Urban Vulnerability Synthetic Index. Multiple criteria classification at 

regional level according to the set of 5 Socioeconomic Vulnerability Indicators. 


(95) ISVUN-R: Housing criteria Classification. 

ISVUN-R: Urban Vulnerability Synthetic Index. Multiple criteria classification at 

regional level according to the set of 5 Housing Vulnerability Indicators. 


(96) ISVUR-S: Subjective perception criteria Classification. 

ISVUR-S: Urban Vulnerability Synthetic Index. Multiple criteria classification at 

regional level according to the set of 5 Subjective perception Indicators. 




INFORMATION CONTAINED IN SYMBOLS TAB. 

Symbols tab allows users to represent different magnitudes (mainly population, 

households or houses) in each Census section through symbols, overlaying the 

symbolic representation over the coropleth representation. 

The source of the data is the INE, National Statistics Institute: Population and Housing 

Census 2001. 

The magnitudes that can be represented are also grouped in 4 domains: 

Sociodemographic vulnerability: 

Population. 

Population aged 75 or more. 

Households. 

Households with only one person aged 64 or more. 

Single-parent households. 

Foreign population. 

Population under 15 years old. 

Foreign population under 15 years old. 

Socioeconomic vulnerability: 

Economically active population aged 16 or more. 

Economically active population between 16 and 29 years old. 

Population 16-29 years old in situation of unemployment. 

Population 16-19 years old. 

Employed population. 

Persons in employment with a contingent job. 

Persons in employment without qualification. 

Population aged 16 or more. 

Illiterate population aged 16 or more. 



Housing vulnerability: 

Family dwellings. 

Dwellings with less than 30 m2 of effective living area. 

Residents in family dwellings. 

Population in dwellings without toilet or WC. 

Dwellings in ruined or deficient buildings. 

Dwellings in buildings built before 1951. 

Subjective perception vulnerability: 

Residents in family dwellings. 

Population with external noises problem. 

Population with air pollution problems. 

Population with bad transport/communication problems. 

Population with lack of green open spaces problem. 

Population with delinquency problems. 



3. WORKING TEAM CREDITS. 

ARGEA Consultores SL. 

Director: 

-Pablo Fidalgo García, geographer. 

Working Team: 

- Elisa Suárez Antón, sociologist. 

- Julián Bueno Risco, geographer. 

- Agustín Martín Espinosa, geographer. 

Madrid School of Architecture. Madrid Polytechnic University. 

-Mariano Vázquez Espí, architect and proffesor at Madrid School of 

Architecture. Madrid Polytechnic University. 

Ministry of Public Works: 

General Director for Architecture, Housing and Land. 

- María Pilar Martínez López, General Director for Architecture, Housing and 

Land. 

General Director of Land and Urban Policies. . 

-Félix Arias Goytre, architect, General Director of Land and Urban Policies. 

Deputy Director of Urban Policies. 

- Ángela de la Cruz Mera, Deputy Director of Urban Policies. 

Deputy Director of Land Policy. 

- María Dolores Aguado, Deputy Director of Land Policy. 

Director and coordinator of the working team: 

- Eduardo de Santiago Rodríguez, architect, Techical Advisor on Land and 

Urban Policies. 

Informatics Coordinator: 

- Juan Luis Quesada Peña, Technical Advisor of the Deputy Direction of Land 

Policy. 

Database elaboration: 

-Elisa Suárez Antón. 

-Eduardo de Santiago Rodríguez (supervision). 

Multiple Criteria Classification: 

-Mariano Vázquez Espí, architect and proffesor at Madrid School of 

Architecture. Madrid Polytechnic University. 

Atlas of urban vulnerability in Spain tool development: 

-Elisa Suárez Antón. 

-Julián Bueno Risco. 

-Eduardo de Santiago Rodríguez (texts, direction and supervision). 



Cartography development: 

-Agustín Martín Espinosa. 


Informatics Coordination: 

-Juan Luis Quesada Peña. 


Cartography of the ARIs and ARUs funded by the National Housing Plans: 

Team Director: 

- Agustín Hernández Aja, architect, Head of the Urban and Regional Planning 

Departament. Madrid School of Architecture. Madrid Polytechnic University. 

Authors of the reports: 


Department. Madrid School of Architecture. Madrid Polytechnic University. 

- Carolina García Madruga, architect and Master in Urban Planning at Madrid 

School of Architecture. Madrid Polytechnic University. 

- Angela Matesanz Parellada, architect and Master in Urban Planning at Madrid 


- Elena Moreno García, architect and Master in Urban Planning at Madrid School 

of Architecture. Madrid Polytechnic University. 

- Iván rodríguez Suárez, architect and Master in Urban Planning at Madrid 


Basic working team: 

- Carolina García Madruga, architect and Master in Urban Planning at Madrid 




- Elena Moreno García, architect and Master in Urban Planning at Madrid School 

of Architecture. Madrid Polytechnic University. 

- Iván rodríguez Suárez, architect and Master in Urban Planning at Madrid 


- Ana Díez Bermejo, architect and student at the Master in Urban Planning at 


- Laura López Álvarez, architect and student at the Master in Urban Planning at 


- Paula Maeso Sánchez, student of Architecture (Degree Project). 

- Gabriela Sánchez Calvete, student of Architecture (Degree Project). 

Coordination with the Ministry of Public Works: 



- Fernando Roch Peña, architect and proffesor of Urban and Regional Planning 

at Madrid School of Architecture. Madrid Polytechnic University. 





Cartography of the Vulnerable Neighbourhoods included in the Urban Analysis 

of Vulnerable Neighbourhoods is Spain 2001. 

The works were carried during 2009 and 2010 by the following team: 

Team Director: 


Departament. Madrid School of Architecture. Madrid Polytechnic University. 

Authors of the reports: 



- Mariano Vázquez Espí, architect and proffesor at Madrid School of Architecture. 

Madrid Polytechnic University. 

- Fernando Roch Peña, architect and proffesor of Urban and Regional Planning 


- Carolina García Madruga, architect and student at the Urban Planning Master 


- Angela Matesanz Parellada, architect and student at the Urban Planning Master 


- Elena Moreno García, architect and student at the Urban Planning Master at 


- Julio Alguacil, sociologist and proffesor at Universidad Carlos III, Madrid . 

- Javier Camacho, sociologist and proffesor at Universidad Carlos III, Madrid . 

Basic working team: 

- Carolina García Madruga, architect and student at the Urban Planning Master 


- Laura López Álvarez, student of Architecture (Degree Project). 

- Ángela Matesanz Parellada, architect and student at the Urban Planning Master 


- Elena Moreno García, architect and student at the Urban Planning Master at 


- Jacobo Peláez-Campomanes Guibert, student of Architecture (Degree Project). 

- Gabriela Sánchez Calvete, student of Architecture (Degree Project). 

- Gonzalo Sánchez-Toscano Salgado, student of Architecture (Degree Project). 

Acknowledgements: 

- INE. Instituto Nacional de Estadística. 

Montserrat García Vázquez 

Subdirección General de Difusión Estadística. INE.

atlas of urban vulnerability in spain: methodology and contents

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