Measuring the quality and accessibility of urban greenery using free data sources: A case study in Bratislava, Slovakia

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128217
• Publication Date: 2024-01-23T18:02:04Z
• Authors: Hana Bobáľová; Vladimír Falťan; Alexandra Benová; Miroslav Kožuch; Michaela Kotianová; František Petrovič
• Keywords: Urban Heat Island

The importance of assessing urban greenery is growing, especially in the context global warming and emergence heat islands. paper proposes a set measurements to evaluate quality accessibility based on freely available geographic data: Sentinel-2 satellite images, Urban Atlas, Open Street Map. (or availability) derived from images by using spectral Forest Index (FI). proposed Neighborhood Green Quality Indexes (NGQI0/30, NGQI350) near far surroundings spatial unit averaging FI values. Accessibility Space (AGSI) measures green spaces (GS) number theoretical functional levels within reach average normalised distance nearest GS across levels. We also propose separately assess parks with amenities through Parks (AUPI). Such areas attract specific groups population, such as elderly people mothers children, who are among most vulnerable during waves. can be applied square grid buildings. A mutual comparison Bratislava, capital Slovakia, confirmed that each measurement captures different characteristics greenery. two other widely used indicators showed achieves highest correlation land surface temperature hot summer days. When evaluating precision NGQI0/30 calculation, Sentinel-2-derived proved sufficient substitute for high-resolution data sources. Since do not require complex calculations hard-to-obtain data, they easily applicable cities.