# Density of use in building zones

A thematic map of the Atlas of Switzerland, the national atlas published by ETH Zurich. The map is drawn in the browser; this file describes it and lists its variants and links, but not the data values shown on the map.

- Map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/density-of-use-in-building-zones/
- Short title: Usage density
- Map id: 450
- Categories: Landscape and Space › Spatial development › Settlement area
- Keywords: Buildings, Labour force, Settlement, Transport
- Published: 2017-07-26
- Last revised: 2022-01-20
- Content language: English
- Other languages: [Deutsch](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/de/thema/nutzungsdichte-der-bauzonen.md), [Français](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/fr/theme/densite-dutilisation-des-zones-a-batir.md), [Italiano](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/it/tema/densita-di-utilizzo-delle-zone-edificabili.md)

## Description

Density of use essentially describes the intensity with which building zones are utilised for living and working. In this sense, it shows the demands placed on individual building zones. Density of use is expressed as the number of residents and workers per hectare of building zone space (residential, mixed-use and centre zones).

The more centrally located a building zone is, the more intensely it will be used. Density of use is thus higher in urban communities (which are also generally easier to access) than in rural communities. For example, in 2015 the average value for density of use in large cities (large centres) was 145 users/ha of building zonespace, while in touristic communities it was only 25 people/ha of building zonespace.

Density of use is statistically independent of building density and is therefore a good instrument for aligning settlement patterns and transport requirements. Basically, the greater the density of use, the better the transport connections in the zone should be. During spatial planning processes, targets for intensity of use and future infrastructure capacity can thus be defined and managed independently of building density in a given building zone.

## Sources

- Amt für Raumentwicklung (ARE) Kanton Zürich (2015): [Leitfaden Dichtevorgaben](http://www.are.zh.ch/content/dam/baudirektion/are/raumplanung/formulare/2015_04_Leitfaden_Dichtevorgaben.pdf)
- Bunderamt für Raumentwicklung (ARE), Office fédéral du développement territorial (ARE), Ufficio federale dello sviluppo territoriale (ARE), Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE) (2012): [Bauzonenstatistik Schweiz 2012,Statistique suisse de la zone à bâtir 2012,Statistica delle zone edificabili Svizzera 2012,Swiss Building Zone Statistics 2012](https://www.are.admin.ch/are/de/home/raumentwicklung-und-raumplanung/grundlagen-und-daten/bauzonenstatistik-schweiz.html)

## Data sources

- Bunderamt für Raumentwicklung ARE, Office fédéral du Développement territorial ARE, Ufficio federale dello sviluppo territoriale ARE, Federal Office for Spatial Development ARE: [Bauzonen Schweiz (harmonisiert)](http://www.ikgeo.ch/dokumentation/geodaten-bauzonen-schweiz.html)
- FSO GEOSTAT und Swisstopo (2016): [Statistik der Unternehmensstruktur (STATENT), Beschäftigte und Arbeitsstätten: Geodaten](https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/dienstleistungen/geostat/geodaten-bundesstatistik/arbeitsstaetten-beschaeftigung/statistik-unternehmensstruktur-statent-ab-2011.assetdetail.1009560.html)
- FSO GEOSTAT und Swisstopo (2016): [Neue Volkszählung, Bevölkerung, Privathaushalte: Geodaten](https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/dienstleistungen/geostat/geodaten-bundesstatistik/gebaeude-wohnungen-haushalte-personen/ergebnisse-volkszaehlung-ab-2010.assetdetail.1442443.html)
- geoInfomapping (2014): [Nutzungsdichte Index_CH](http://www.geoinfomapping.ch/userfiles/File/Nutzungsdichte.jpg)

## Data owners

- [Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO)](https://www.bfs.admin.ch/)
- [Swiss Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE)](http://www.are.admin.ch/)

## Citation

The terms of use ask to name the Atlas of Switzerland and the data owners, and to keep the source references in exports, screenshots and embeds. Cite the map as:

> Atlas of Switzerland (2022): Density of use in building zones. ETH Zürich. Map data © FSO, ARE. https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/density-of-use-in-building-zones/

## Links

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- Map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/density-of-use-in-building-zones/
- Short link, stays valid when the title changes: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/t/450/
- Side by side with another map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/comparison/?lt=450&rt={id of the other map}&ru={u of the other map, or leave out}

Embed in another website (allowed by the terms of use, as long as the source references stay visible):

```html
<iframe src="https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/embed/?id=450&dm=e&ig=1" style="border:0;width:100%;height:600px;max-width:100%;" loading="lazy" title="Thematic map 'Usage density' in the Atlas of Switzerland" allowfullscreen sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups" allow="geolocation" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"></iframe>
```

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For the use and citation of maps and data, see the [terms of use](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/terms-of-use/).