Behavioural mapping of urban green spaces users: methodological procedures applied to Corujeira Garden (Porto, Portugal)

Abstract

Current evidence states that urban green spaces (UGS) increase the quality of urban settings, enhance local resilience and promote sustainable lifestyles, being recognized as an effective nature-based-solution. The socioecological research, by combining social and ecological variables, is useful to fully explore Humans-Nature interactions. The direct observation of behaviours is a mobilized technique in socioecological research. However, two particular aspects of this technique should be further explored: the relationship of individuals with the UGS and the mapping of the behaviours that configure this relationship. The present work describes the methodological steps of the Behavioural Mapping (BM) application in a public garden located in the city of Porto regarding users behaviours. Preliminary findings identified that the poor quality of both urban furniture and maintenance of natural elements in the garden strongly discouraged a full enjoyment of the UGS. Also, warm areas with trees are usually preferred by users. The absence of well-maintained natural elements does not allow full fruition of the UGS. Based on these findings, BM can be useful for both socioecological research and supporting people-centred and place-based public policies. BM can support landscape planners and decision-makers with empirical evidence on the relationship between space design and its uses.