Image of a Local Area: Measuring and Managing

The image of a local area can be conceived as cumulative beliefs, ideas, opinions, and experiences people have about a place. Image embodies a large number of information, memories, and suggestions that pertain to a specific place, which are processed by human mind by selecting relevant evidence from a big amount of data about a local area. Image conceptualizes the value and/or a certain level of performance that a place expresses and it inspires human behaviors. The image of a local area is perceiveid by people, it is part of knowledge structures related to a place and it is long-lasting and difficult to change. Measuring and managing the image of a local area can support the socioeconomic development of a local community by providing to local policy-makers the necessary information to support them in improving policy outcomes. When applied to a...