Place › Hamburg /DE/
Date › 2021
Journal › International Journal of E-Planning Research
Authors › O. Nováček, J. L. Baeza, J. Barski, J. R. Noenning
University › STU Bratislava, HCU Hamburg
Type › Research article
Defining Parameters for Urban-Environmental Quality Assessment
Measuring the quality of the urban environment is the subject of research across various disciplines. Over the years, numerous methods and indicators have been developed, as well as approaches that combine multiple perspectives. However, current city performance indices depend largely on how “quality” is defined and on the weight assigned to the different factors that influence it.
This study compares the emphasis existing indices place on various aspects of urban environmental quality with what people themselves most often mention when talking about what they like or dislike about a city. The aim is to gain direct feedback on how people make decisions about their movement through urban space.
The results show that there is only a weak correlation between these two groups of indicators. Likewise, the key urban elements that trigger positive or negative emotions differ. The authors also observe that people tend to perceive and describe specific physical elements of the city (such as benches, greenery, sidewalks) rather than abstract concepts like safety or comfort.
