QUANTIFYING THE IMPACT OF PEDESTRIAN-LEVEL GREENING ON THE PERCEPTION OF WALKING

Abstract

With the ongoing densification of cities, there is an increasing need to assess the impact of compressed urban spaces on residents’ wellbeing. Sidewalks are a platform for connectivity and social interaction. However, city planners often focus on pragmatic aspects while designing sidewalk spaces and neglect pedestrians' walking experiences. Hong Kong is recognized as a high-density city with a high proportion of walking connections, but quality issues such as obstacles and pollution are systemic. Our study is centred around a pedestrian perception-oriented walking greening index and using Hong Kong as a case study site. Firstly, the Green View Index (GVI) was obtained through the results of semantic segmentation of Street View Imagery (SVI). The amount of planting near the sidewalk was calibrated by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Secondly, a questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain the preferences of pedestrians for the above two indicators. Its results were used to determine the weights of each indicator and obtain the final walking greening index. The research provides practical guidance for transforming sidewalk environments into multifunctional social spaces, providing community infrastructure in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. It contributes new urban design insights around the balance between urban construction and urban greening.