Technology-People Narratives: Innovating Urban Space Assessment for Intergenerational Cohesion

The urban environment, particularly public open spaces, plays a crucial role in fostering intergenerational cohesion and promoting cities that cater to all ages. This study explores innovative methodologies to assess and enhance urban open spaces through an intergenerational lens, focusing on the integration of mobile technology and neural-correlated image segmentation. These approaches not only offer a novel perspective on urban planning but also aim to bridge generational divides by understanding and accommodating the diverse needs and perceptions of urban spaces across different age groups. The study engages with two cases. The first investigates the application of mobile technology in assessing urban open spaces. This approach underscores the potential of mobile data in understanding the temporal and spatial dimensions of urban spaces, contributing to the creation of more inclusive and adaptive cities. The second case study examines the use of neural correlates as an additional layer to assess and understand user perceptions of urban spaces. This technique involves analysing images of urban spaces through image segmentation to identify and categorize visual elements that influence perception and usage among different generations. This neural network approach offers a unique opportunity to visualize and quantify the emotional and cognitive responses elicited by urban spaces, providing a comprehensive understanding of how these areas are perceived across age cohorts. Such insights are invaluable for planning authorities in making evidence-based decisions that enhance the physical and psychological well-being of urban inhabitants of all ages. Together, these cases provide a comprehensive framework for assessing urban open spaces, guiding local authorities in developing strategies that foster intergenerational cohesion and improve and public open spaces within cities that are welcoming and accessible to all.