A multi-criteria decision analysis based framework to evaluate public space quality

Good public space is an inherent part of liveable cities. However, due to the complexity and ambiguity of the concept of public space quality, capturing essential characteristics to assess the quality of public space in a quantitative framework is not straightforward. In this paper, we introduce the Public Space Quality Index (PSQI), a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) based framework to measure the quality of public space in a systematic manner. This paper discusses the development of our research methodology, which includes four key phases: criteria selection, criteria ranking and weighting, criteria quantification, and criteria aggregation. We also present the results of the first phase, and discuss the main findings from an expert workshop we conducted with Singapore-based urban design professionals, as a validation and learning moment for our past and future work, respectively.

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