Multidimensional Assessment of Public Space Quality: A Comprehensive Framework Across Urban Space Typologies

TL;DR

This paper develops a comprehensive framework for assessing public space quality across different urban typologies, identifying universal and specific factors, and highlighting hierarchical relationships and current assessment limitations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel, integrated assessment framework that combines universal and typology-specific quality factors for public spaces, addressing existing methodological gaps.

Findings

Accessibility, safety, and comfort are universal priorities.

Distinct typology-specific quality factors are identified.

Hierarchical relationships among quality factors are established.

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive framework for evaluating the quality of public spaces across various urban typologies. Through a systematic review of 159 research studies, we identify universal quality factors that transcend spatial types as well as specialized factors unique to specific public environments. Our findings establish accessibility (73.6%), safety/security (58.4%), and comfort (52.8%) as foundational requirements across all public space types, while revealing distinct quality priorities for different typologies: open spaces emphasize comfort (70%), parks prioritize activities (60%), green spaces focus on aesthetics and natural elements (70% and 60%), and public facilities uniquely emphasize indoor environment quality (41.7%). The research reveals a hierarchical relationship between factors, where accessibility enables other qualities, safety serves as a prerequisite for utilization, and comfort determines engagement quality. We identify critical limitations in current assessment approaches, including artificial intelligence studies focused on easily quantifiable factors, domain-specific research confined within disciplinary boundaries, and overreliance on subjective perceptions without objective measures. This research provides a foundation for integrated approaches to public space assessment that acknowledge the complexity of public urban environments while addressing both universal human needs and context-specific requirements. The findings support urban planners, designers, and policymakers in developing balanced assessment methodologies that ensure both comparability across spaces and sensitivity to local conditions, ultimately contributing to the creation of high-quality public spaces that enhance urban life and community wellbeing.