Sensitivity analysis in multi-criteria evaluation of the suitability of urban green spaces for recreational activities

Abstract. Urban green spaces can have potential positive impacts on climate, biodiversity, health, and generally on the quality of life for urban residents and are of great importance for pursuing recreational activities. People as urban green space users should therefore be well informed about where they are located within a city and what activities they are suitable for. As people’s individual preferences play a significant role in the decision-making process for visiting urban green spaces, we present a method that enables to assess urban green spaces upon various activities in accordance with a range of criteria. A sensitivity analysis to investigate the influence of weighting the criteria in a multi-criteria evaluation of the suitability of urban green spaces for recreational activities depending on people’s preferences is in the focus. Initial results are shown based on an exemplary use case of playing Frisbee. Overall, the study is embedded in the development of a spatial decision support system implemented in the form of a web app to assist urban residents make decisions in the context of green space use.