Evaluating the efficiency of urban spaces: Durrat Karbalaa Complex as an example

Abstract

The paper explores and review the research articles related to the evaluation of urban spaces and shed light on the methods used due to its importance which contribute to further deeply understanding and enhancing urban spaces from all aspects and make it more suitable for users and the emerging needs. In addition, the evaluation methods will help to not only enhancing peoples life but also enhancing the economy and developing local market and encouraging tourism. Many methods have been reviewed from the old to the new methods like monitoring and observation, survey and questionnaire, behavioral mapping and space syntax analysis, environmental monitoring, evaluating the economic and social impact, public space index and postoccupation evaluation in addition to the newly developed methods like using artificial intelligence in space evaluation. The results of reviewing the papers regarding space evaluation showed the importance of statistics and data collection in this field by measuring street activity using surveillance cameras and sensors to give a picture on the number of people using a certain public space. Additionally, the questionnaire and collecting user opinions and feedbacks which give a clear idea about people’s needs and preferences in addition to that, these data will help to analyze many economic aspects such as encouraging small businesses and lowering crime. Additionally, a questionnaire have been made in Durrat Karbalaa complex to evaluate the efficiency of urban spaces and the results revealed that it is necessary to give more importance to the spaces near the houses (Space 1) which had small areas and lack many aspects which could make the space more comfortable and suitable for people. Additionally, there was lack in providing kids play grounds with the suitable equipment to make it more welcoming for kids from different ages.