A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Urban green infrastructure and recreational patterns: A 3D geospatial data analysis
Authors: Fagerholm, Nora; Tanhuanpää, Topi; Hasanzadeh, Kamyar; Kajosaari, Anna; Rinne, Tiina; Holpainen, Markus; Kyttä, Marketta
Publisher: Elsevier
Publishing place: MUNICH
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Urban Forestry and Urban Greening
Journal name in source: URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
Journal acronym: URBAN FOR URBAN GREE
Article number: 128892
Volume: 112
Number of pages: 13
ISSN: 1618-8667
eISSN: 1610-8167
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128892
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128892
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/499007700
This study investigates the potential of 3D geospatial data to explain the spatial distribution of outdoor leisuretime activities in Helsinki, Finland, as mapped through Public Participation GIS (PPGIS). By integrating airborne laser scanning (ALS) data with traditional land cover data derived from satellite imagery, we provide complementary insights into urban green infrastructure (UGI) characteristics. Key findings reveal that features such as Relative canopy cover and Average crown area are associated with outdoor activity distribution, particularly for social interactions and nature enjoyment. Proximity to rivers and the sea also emerged as crucial factors, highlighting the importance of blue spaces for recreational activities. However, the relatively low explained variance for some activities suggests a complex interplay of factors, including built infrastructure and sociodemographic characteristics, influencing urban outdoor recreation behavior. This study highlights the value of high-resolution 3D data for urban planning and UGI research, providing detailed insights into the vertical structure of urban greenery, which are not captured by traditional satellite imagery-based greenness indices. In this paper, we present details of our analytical approach, share the results, discuss the observations, and envision future research directions.
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Funding information in the publication:
N.F. has received funding from the Academy of Finland project GreenPlace (grant number 321555). N.F., M.K. and T.R. have received funding from the Transformative Cities project funded by the European Union – NextGeneration EU instrument and the Academy of Finland (grant number 352943). The primary PPGIS data was collected in the PLAN-Health project funded by the Academy of Finland (grant number 13297753).
