Abstract
We developed a method to understand the urban structure for well-being by combining tree canopy coverage and pedestrian flow data. Greater exposure to green spaces ensures greater benefits for residents of an area. By determining the degree to which the citizens of a city are close to green spaces, the degree of exposure to green spaces in that city can be quantified. We calculated the probability of encountering green spaces from pedestrian flow data and used this probability as the Green Accessibility Index (GAI). The GAI is the degree of exposure to green spaces; because the pedestrian flow data used are all-day data, we can convert this information to a 24-hour period to attain a time unit. This is called the Cumulative Green Spaces Exposure Time (CGSET). By converting the amount of exposure to green spaces into hours, we can respond to findings from measuring the effects per hour seen in public health research. By using these values to evaluate urban structure, we can consider the strategic placement of green spaces, and in the competition for their use in urban areas with limited space, we can theoretically organize the trade-off between the multifunctional benefits of green spaces and the functions that could be realized if the spaces were utilized differently.
