Scoring Methodology

Overview Composite Score Grade Scale

15 PARAMETERS Air Quality Water Quality Amenity Access Noise / Quiet Green Cover Sanitation Flood Risk Earthquake Risk Surface Temperature Open Area Nighttime Lights Water Bodies Population Density Infrastructure Groundwater

Overview

The GreaterRaipur Livability Index evaluates every neighbourhood across 15 parameters spanning environmental quality, infrastructure, safety, and urban services. Each parameter is individually scored on a 0–100 scale (higher is always better for livability), then combined into a single composite score.

Parameters Measured

0–100

Score Range

A–F

Grade Scale

Key principle: Every raw measurement is normalised to 0–100 so that all parameters carry equal weight. For "lower is better" metrics (temperature, pollution, risk), the value is inverted so a higher score always means better livability.

Composite Score Calculation

Area Composite Score

Composite Score = SUM(all available parameter scores) ÷ COUNT(non-null parameters)

Each area is evaluated on up to 15 parameters. Only parameters with data are included — null values are skipped, not treated as zero. This means a new area with 10 available parameters will be averaged across 10, not penalised for 5 missing values.

City Composite Score

City Score = AVG(Composite Scores of all areas in that city)

The city score is a simple average of all individual area composite scores within that city.

Equal weighting: All 15 parameters have equal weight (no parameter is more important than another). This ensures no single metric can disproportionately dominate the final score.

Grade Scale

Grade	Score Range	Interpretation
A	80 – 100	Excellent livability — top-tier neighbourhood with strong scores across most parameters
B	60 – 79	Good livability — well-rounded area with few weak spots
C	40 – 59	Fair livability — average area with noticeable gaps in some metrics
D	20 – 39	Poor livability — significant challenges in multiple parameters
F	0 – 19	Critical — severe deficiencies requiring urgent attention

The 15 Parameters

1. Air Quality Score

AQICN / WAQI API Lower AQI = Better

Measures real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) from the nearest monitoring station. The AQI scale (0–500) is inverted so that cleaner air scores higher.

Air Score = max(0, 100 − AQI)

AQI Value	Air Score	Meaning
0 (pristine)	100	Excellent air quality
50	50	Moderate air quality
100+	0	Poor / unhealthy

2. Water Quality Score

CWC / Municipal Data Higher = Better

A weighted average of five drinking water quality and supply metrics:

Factor	Weight	Formula	Ideal Range
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)	20%	`max(0, 100 × (1 − TDS/2000))`	≤ 500 ppm
pH Level	15%	`max(0, 100 − \|pH − 7.5\| × 40)`	6.5 – 8.5
Turbidity	20%	`max(0, 100 × (1 − Turbidity/10))`	≤ 5 NTU
Supply Hours	25%	`min(100, (Hours/24) × 100)`	24 hrs/day
Fluoride	20%	`FL ≤ 1.0 → 100, else max(0, 100 − (FL−1.0) × 200)`	≤ 1.0 mg/L

Water Score = (TDS × 0.20) + (pH × 0.15) + (Turbidity × 0.20) + (Supply × 0.25) + (Fluoride × 0.20)

3. Amenity Access Score

OpenStreetMap + Google Places Higher = Better

Counts essential amenities within walking/driving distance and converts to a score per category:

Category	Radius	Formula	Max Score at
Hospitals	500m	`min(100, count × 33)`	3 hospitals
Hospitals	2 km	`min(100, count × 20)`	5 hospitals
Schools	1 km	`min(100, count × 20)`	5 schools
Markets / Shopping	1 km	`min(100, count × 33)`	3 markets
Parks	500m	`min(100, count × 33)`	3 parks
Metro / BRTS	1 km	`min(100, count × 50)`	2 stations
Pharmacy	500m	`min(100, count × 33)`	3 pharmacies
Banks	1 km	`min(100, count × 33)`	3 banks
Restaurants	1 km	`min(100, count × 20)`	5 restaurants
Worship Sites	1 km	`min(100, count × 33)`	3 sites
Transport Services	1 km	`min(100, count × 25)`	4 services

Amenity Score = SUM(all 11 category scores) ÷ 11

4. Noise / Quiet Score

OpenStreetMap (roads, industry, railways) Farther from noise = Better

Proxy noise estimation based on distance to noise sources and density of noise-generating infrastructure:

Factor	Weight	Formula
Highway Proximity	40%	`(min(dist, 2000) / 2000) × 100` 0m→0, 2km→100
Industrial Proximity	25%	`(min(dist, 2000) / 2000) × 100`
Railway Proximity	15%	`(min(dist, 2000) / 2000) × 100`
Highway Density (2 km)	10%	`(1 − min(count, 10) / 10) × 100` 0→100, 10→0
Industrial Density (2 km)	10%	`(1 − min(count, 5) / 5) × 100`

Quiet Score = (HwProx × 0.40) + (IndProx × 0.25) + (RlProx × 0.15) + (HwDens × 0.10) + (IndDens × 0.10)

5. Green Cover Score

Landsat 8/9 (NDVI) OpenStreetMap (parks) Higher = Better

Combines satellite-measured vegetation indices with nearby park counts:

Factor	Weight	Formula
NDVI Mean	40%	`min(100, (NDVI / 0.5) × 100)` 0.0→0, 0.5+→100
Vegetation % (NDVI>0.2)	30%	`min(100, VegetationPct)`
Dense Green % (NDVI>0.4)	20%	`min(100, (DensePct / 50) × 100)`
Parks within 500m	10%	`min(100, ParkCount × 33)`

Green Score = (NDVI × 0.40) + (Vegetation × 0.30) + (Dense × 0.20) + (Parks × 0.10)

Buffer radii: 1000m + 3000m averaged

6. Sanitation Score

Municipal Records Higher = Better

Evaluates five sanitation infrastructure metrics:

Factor	Weight	Scoring
ODF Status	20%	ODF++ = 100, ODF+ = 70, ODF = 40
Sewage Coverage	30%	Direct percentage (0–100%)
Drainage Coverage	25%	Direct percentage (0–100%)
Waste Collection	15%	Daily 2x = 100, Daily = 80, Alt. Day = 50
Disposal Method	10%	Centralised STP = 100, STP = 80, Septic = 50, Open Drain = 10

Sanitation Score = (ODF × 0.20) + (Sewage × 0.30) + (Drainage × 0.25) + (Waste × 0.15) + (Disposal × 0.10)

7. Flood Risk Score

Hazard Maps / River Proximity Lower Risk = Better

Measures flood vulnerability. The raw flood risk score (high = more risk) is inverted for the composite:

Flood Livability Report = 100 − Flood Risk Score

Flood Risk	Livability Report	Meaning
20 (low risk)	80	Safe from flooding
50 (moderate)	50	Some flood exposure
80 (high risk)	20	Flood-prone zone

8. Earthquake Risk Score

NDMA / GSHAP Seismic Data Lower Risk = Better

Based on seismic zone (II–IV), PGA (Peak Ground Acceleration), and soil/liquefaction risk. Inverted for composite:

Earthquake Livability Report = 100 − Earthquake Risk Score

Parameters: Seismic Zone, Zone Factor, PGA (475yr/2475yr return period), soil type, liquefaction susceptibility.

9. Land Surface Temperature (LST) Score

Landsat 8/9 C2 L2 (thermal band) Cooler = Better

Satellite-measured surface temperature indicates urban heat island effects. The Mean Temperature (averaged across 1000m and 3000m buffers) is converted to a livability score:

IF Mean Temp ≤ 20°C → Score = 100
IF Mean Temp ≥ 45°C → Score = 0
Otherwise: LST Score = ((45 − Mean Temp) ÷ 25) × 100

Mean Temp	LST Score	Category
20°C	100	Cool
27°C	72	Moderate
35°C	40	Warm
45°C	0	Hot / Urban Heat Island

Thermal conversion: ST_B10 × 0.00341802 + 149.0 − 273.15 (Kelvin → Celsius). Buffers: 1000m + 3000m averaged.

10. Open Area Score

ESA WorldCover v200 (10m) Less Built-up = Better

Measures the proportion of non-built-up land — open spaces, parks, and breathable areas. Derived from satellite land cover classification.

Open Area Score = 100 − Built-up Percentage

Built-up %	Score	Meaning
10%	90	Very open, rural/green
50%	50	Mixed urban-green
90%	10	Dense concrete, very little open space

Buffers: 1000m + 3000m averaged.

11. Nighttime Lights Score

VIIRS DNB Monthly (avg_rad) Brighter = Better

Satellite-measured nighttime light radiance as a proxy for electrification and economic activity. Brighter areas indicate better infrastructure:

IF Radiance ≤ 0 → Score = 0
IF Radiance ≥ 50 nW/cm²/sr → Score = 100
Otherwise: NTL Score = (Radiance ÷ 50) × 100

Buffers: 1000m + 3000m averaged.

12. Water Bodies Score

JRC Global Surface Water v1.4 More Water = Better

Presence of permanent and seasonal water bodies (lakes, rivers, ponds) within the buffer area:

Factor	Weight	Formula
Permanent Water (≥50% occurrence)	70%	`min(100, (WaterPct / 10) × 100)` 10%+ → 100
Seasonal Water (≥10% occurrence)	30%	`min(100, (SeasonalPct / 20) × 100)` 20%+ → 100

Water Bodies Score = (Permanent × 0.70) + (Seasonal × 0.30)

Buffers: 1000m + 3000m averaged.

13. Population Density Score

WorldPop 100m (2020) Lower Density = Better

Estimated population density per km². Lower density neighbourhoods are scored higher for livability:

IF Density ≤ 0 → Score = 100
IF Density ≥ 20,000 people/km² → Score = 0
Otherwise: Pop Score = ((20,000 − Density) ÷ 20,000) × 100

Density = Population ÷ (π × radius_km²). Buffers: 1000m + 3000m averaged.

14. Infrastructure Score

GEE (ESA WorldCover, GHSL, VIIRS, DEM) Higher = Better

A multi-factor GEE-derived index measuring urban infrastructure maturity:

Factor	Weight	Source
Urbanisation Index	20%	GHSL settlement classification
Built-up Density	15%	ESA WorldCover
Light Stability Index	15%	VIIRS stability band
Building Height	10%	Sentinel-1 building height model
Impervious Surface	10%	ESA WorldCover (class 50+80)
Nighttime Radiance	10%	VIIRS avg_rad
Slope / Terrain	10%	SRTM DEM
Green Cover	10%	ESA WorldCover (tree+grass)

Infrastructure Score = Weighted average of all 8 available sub-factors

Buffers: 1000m + 3000m averaged.

15. Groundwater Score

TerraClimate (soil moisture, PDSI, recharge) Higher = Better

Composite groundwater health score from five climate-hydrology factors:

Factor	Weight	Formula	Range
Soil Moisture	30%	`(SoilMoisture / 200) × 100`	0–200 mm
Recharge Rate	25%	`((Recharge + 200) / 600) × 100`	−200 to +400 mm
PDSI (drought index)	20%	`((PDSI + 4) / 8) × 100`	−4 to +4
Soil Moisture Trend	15%	`((Trend + 50) / 100) × 100`	−50 to +50 mm
Precipitation	10%	`((Precip − 800) / 1000) × 100`	800–1800 mm

Groundwater Score = (SM × 0.30) + (Recharge × 0.25) + (PDSI × 0.20) + (Trend × 0.15) + (Precip × 0.10)

Buffers: 1000m + 3000m averaged.

Data Sources

Satellite / Remote Sensing

Landsat 8/9 C2 L2 — NDVI, Surface Temperature (30m)
ESA WorldCover v200 — Land cover classification (10m)
VIIRS DNB — Nighttime lights radiance (500m)
JRC Global Surface Water — Water body occurrence
WorldPop — Population density (100m)
TerraClimate — Soil moisture, recharge, PDSI
GHSL — Global Human Settlement Layer
SRTM DEM — Elevation and terrain slope

APIs / Ground Data

AQICN / WAQI — Real-time Air Quality Index
Google Places API — Amenity locations and counts
OpenStreetMap — Roads, railways, industrial zones, parks
Central Water Commission — Water quality data
NDMA / GSHAP — Seismic zone and PGA data
Municipal Records — Sanitation, sewage, waste collection

Buffer Radius Averaging

For 11 satellite-derived parameters (LST, Open Area, NTL, Water Bodies, Population, Infrastructure, Groundwater, Green Cover, and others), data is extracted at two buffer radii — 1000m (local neighbourhood) and 3000m (wider context). The final score is the average of both buffers, balancing hyperlocal conditions with surrounding area influence.

Contents

Overview

Composite Score Calculation

Area Composite Score

City Composite Score

Grade Scale

The 15 Parameters

1. Air Quality Score

2. Water Quality Score

3. Amenity Access Score

4. Noise / Quiet Score

5. Green Cover Score

6. Sanitation Score

7. Flood Risk Score

8. Earthquake Risk Score

9. Land Surface Temperature (LST) Score

10. Open Area Score

11. Nighttime Lights Score

12. Water Bodies Score

13. Population Density Score

14. Infrastructure Score

15. Groundwater Score

Data Sources

Satellite / Remote Sensing

APIs / Ground Data

Buffer Radius Averaging