Mapping urban vitality through dynamic population presence: A social media-based analysis in Tallinn

Urban vitality (UV) is a commonly used concept that describes the liveliness, diversity, and attractiveness of urban spaces, which foster social interaction and activity. While the concept has received ample attention from researchers, combining big data and traditional data sources to capture UV remains underexplored. To address this gap, we build on contemporary interpretations of Jane Jacobs’s concept of vitality to develop a methodology that identifies dynamically vibrant areas. We propose a conceptual framework comprising three components: the built environment, the static residential population, and the dynamic population presence. The dynamic population presence, derived from georeferenced social media activity, serves as the main proxy for UV, reflecting the dynamic use and interaction within urban space. The built environment and static residential population dimensions are incorporated to contextualize and interpret the spatial patterns of dynamic presence. Vitality is further evaluated through four dynamic attributes: intensity, variability, consistency, and linguistic diversity that describe temporal rhythms and social heterogeneity. Applying this framework to Tallinn, Estonia, we explore the city’s spatio-temporal patterns and spatial clustering to identify its spatial hierarchy of vibrancy and relation to land-use functionality, mixed-use areas, and demographic diversity. The findings demonstrate how combining dynamic data with traditional indicators advances the understanding of UV and supports more inclusive, accessible, and socially cohesive urban planning.