Evaluating public green spaces for the quality of life in cities by integrating RS mapping tools and social science techniques

Abstract

Urban green spaces are essential for the well-being of citizens. We developed a mixed method approach by (1) exploiting RS data to estimate amount and distribution of vegetation cover and (2) conducting a social survey to add in-depth knowledge on accessibility and perception of green spaces. The study area are three municipalities of Santiago de Chile characterized by different household incomes. Existing indicators, such as the amount of green spaces per inhabitant, do not provide enough information for effective decision-making. Our aim was to develop tools to improve planning of location and quality of green spaces in complex urban areas. We apply a set of indicators to disclose existing inequalities. In addition, our in-situ observation on the usage of green spaces and conducted interviews helped to reflect the perception of green spaces by residents.