What is the "All-age Inclusive Community Assessment Indicators" (CAI)?
Why did PolyU J.C.DISI develop this tool?
As our demographic structure evolves, proactively preparing communities to support "ageing in place" and "all-age inclusion" has become a critical agenda for future urban development. PolyU Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation (J.C.DISI) has long been dedicated to integrating social innovation with spatial design. We firmly believe that creating environments that truly work for everyone must be built upon a solid empirical foundation.
To this end, J.C.DISI has developed the "All-age Inclusive Community Assessment Indicators" (hereafter referred to as CAI). Developed by our research team, the CAI is a systematic and comparable community assessment tool. Building upon the foundational concept of "age-friendly communities," the CAI broadens the scope of assessment. By incorporating principles of universal design and family-friendly elements, the tool specifically examines whether community spaces can facilitate natural interactions among children, youth, caregivers, and older adults, thereby fostering genuine intergenerational connectedness and community resilience. Its core objective is to drive "data-driven community planning," providing a forward-looking reference for the development of future inclusive cities.
Aligning with International Standards, Rooted in the Local Context:
Tailor-made for High-density Cities
During the development of the CAI, the J.C.DISI team extensively referenced various international guidelines, including the World Health Organization (WHO) "Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide," as well as other international standards for inclusive communities.
However, we recognise that directly adopting international standards may not suit Hong Kong's unique environment. Therefore, the CAI underwent a rigorous localisation process. Grounded in users' understanding, expectations, and daily experiences of an all-age inclusive community, the tool integrates international perspectives with the realities of Hong Kong as a "high-density city" (e.g., narrow streets, densely packed buildings, and unique patterns of public space utilisation). This ensures that the CAI not only aligns with global concepts of inclusion but also precisely addresses Hong Kong's distinct urban spatial challenges.
Dual Approach with Subjective and Objective Indicators:
A Comprehensive View of the Community
The CAI developed by the J.C.DISI team encompasses multiple dimensions—including Home, Residential Buildings, Open Spaces, Malls and Retails, Markets, Transport and Pedestrian Networks, Basic Community Amenities, and Community and Governance.
To ensure community planning is truly "user-centric," we must understand both the physical state of the spaces and the feelings of the people using them. The subjective assessment indicators within the CAI adopt a user's perspective to capture how residents navigate their neighbourhoods, utilise various facilities, and experience the community first-hand—identifying both their inconveniences (pain points) and the features they appreciate (highlights). Behind each subjective indicator, we have established a corresponding objective indicator to measure and evaluate the physical conditions of the facilities. These objective indicators help us examine whether residents’ experiences involve issues related to spatial design, facility provision, or environmental conditions.
By combining subjective experiences with objective data and comparing them side by side, we not only learn where residents feel a space "does not work well," but also uncover "why it does not work" and "how it can be improved." Subjective and objective indicators complement and validate each other, allowing personal lived experiences to be translated into planning evidence that can be analysed, compared, and acted upon, thereby more accurately identifying directions for optimising community spaces.
Continuous Evolution:
Solidifying Future Research
Community development and research is an ever-evolving process; therefore, our database and the CAI will continuously adapt and grow. Our team will systematically collect and verify survey forms, visual records, and other relevant materials submitted by residents. All collected data will be meticulously categorised, archived, and updated to fill any information gaps. By co-creating this increasingly comprehensive spatial intelligence repository with the community, we can drive more in-depth community analyses, contributing to the long-term, tangible enhancement of community resilience.
If you are interested in how the CAI can empower community development, or if you wish to obtain the full version to explore further collaboration and application, please feel free to contact the J.C.DISI team at: disi.enquiry@polyu.edu.hk.
