Spatial Happiness Analysis Muzaffarpur
Keywords:
Happiness, geospatial, analysis, distribution, determinants, city, data, survey, services, landscape, transport, density, landuse, muzaffarpur, developments.Abstract
Happiness is a multidimensional, subjective concept reflecting individual and collective well-being and quality of life. The multidimensional scaling of happiness using a survey of 734 ward-level residents and geospatial methods of analysis revealed patterns and relationships between happiness, urban form, and infrastructure. Happiness mirrors patterns of public amenities and services such as health and education. A generalised linear model indicates that happiness is positively associated with density, transport access, and greater green space area and negatively related to housing quality. Integrating happiness considerations into planning enhances urban design and service delivery, thereby facilitating better quality of life in rapidly growing cities like Muzaffarpur.
In the absence of time series, seasonality, and high-resolution data sources on physical form and utilities, the analysis is exploratory. The study offers an objective, evidence-based analysis of happiness in Muzaffarpur City using a spatial framework. This approach aids in evaluating the relationship between happiness, urban structure, and infrastructure and provides valuable insights for future urban planning and resource allocation. The study contributes to ongoing discourse on urban form–happiness relationships and demonstrates the integration of the spatial dimension of happiness into geospatial analysis.
References
[1] Kumar, S., & Singh, A. P. (2026). The sustainability divide: An exploratory study of public perceptions on sustainable urban development in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation, 7(1), 486-489.
[2] Singh, A. P., & Research Scholar. (2026). Muzaffarpur's development crossroads: Unpacking the hurdles to a sustainable future. International Journal of Advanced Research in Multidisciplinary Sciences, 9(1), 43-50.
[3] Das, D., & Kumar, R. (2025). Mapping the dimensions of urban poverty: An empirical examination of its nature, magnitude, and severity in the Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. International Journal of Financial Management and Economics, 8(2), 1119-1125.
[4] Gupta, R. K. (2026). GIS-based analysis of land surface characteristics and urban heat island in metropolitan cities of India. International Journal of Engineering and Geosciences, 11(1), 15-28.
[5] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. (2025). Ease of Living Index 2025: Analysis of Tier-II cities in Eastern India. Government of India.
[6] Sharma, V., & Pandey, M. (2024). Happiness and quality of life of Greater Mumbai: A geospatial analysis. Journal of Urban Governance and Safety, 12(4), 202-215.
[7] Kumar, A., & Agrawal, A. (2026). Public perception of urban environmental services in Indian cities: A longitudinal study of Bihar. Journal of Urban Management, 15(1), 45-58.
[8] OECD. (2025). OECD guidelines on measuring subjective well-being (2025 update). OECD Publishing.
[9] World Health Organization. (2026). Measuring the progress and impact of the UN decade of healthy ageing (2021–2030): Regional report for Southeast Asia. WHO Press.
[10] Prasad, R., & Verma, S. (2024). Spatial heterogeneity in the urban household living conditions: A GIS-based spatial analysis of Eastern Indian cities. Journal of Geomatics and Planning, 21(2), 88-102.
[11] World Happiness Report. (2025). Urban-rural happiness differentials in rapidly urbanizing South Asia. Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
[12] NITI Aayog. (2025). National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A progress review 2025. Government of India.
[13] Bhattacharya, S., & Roy, P. (2024). Exploring the spatial fabric of urban well-being through geographically weighted techniques and PPGIS in Indian hill stations. ResearchGate Preprints.
[14] Singh, J., & Yadav, A. (2024). A study on urban heat island (UHI): Challenges and opportunities for mitigation in North Indian cities. Current World Environment, 19(1), 37-49.
[15] Khan, M. A., & Ahmed, S. (2026). Urban quality of life: An assessment and ranking for emerging Indian cities. Journal of Sustainable Development, 18(3), 120-134.
[16] Mishra, T., & Jha, K. (2025). Geospatial modeling of green space accessibility and its impact on mental well-being in Muzaffarpur. Indian Journal of Spatial Science, 16(2), 10-22.
[17] Gupta, S. (2024). Geospatial and statistical analysis of land surface temperature and characteristics of Jaipur and Ahmedabad: Lessons for Bihar. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 12(8), 1-19.
[18] Bihar Urban Development and Housing Department. (2025). Annual report on sustainable urban infrastructure initiatives in Bihar (2024-2025). Government of Bihar.
[19] Chatterjee, A., & Sen, B. (2026). The impact of air quality on subjective well-being: A geospatial study of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 198(2), 310-325.
[20] Rawat, M., & Kumar, P. (2025). Urban livability in a rapidly urbanizing mid-size city: Lessons for planning in the Global South. Sustainability, 17(4), 1504-1520.
