Authors:
Rina Milošević
1
;
Silvija Šiljeg
2
and
Fran Domazetović
2
Affiliations:
1
Croatian Geographical Society Zadar, Zadar, Croatia
;
2
Department of Geography, University of Zadar, Zadar, Croatia
Keyword(s):
Urban Green Areas, GIS-MCDA, Optimal Location, City of Zadar.
Abstract:
The urbanization process has proceeded rapidly in recent decades, resulting in the rapid transformation of natural surfaces into impervious ones which has numerous impacts on the environment and human health. Urban green spaces are recognized as a critical spatial component for maintaining ecological balance and improving human mental and physical health. Therefore, the rational and even distribution of green spaces in the city is particularly important, as they represent the most accessible natural environment for city dwellers. The main objective of this study is to propose criteria and create a UGS suitability model (UGSSM) for the urban area of Zadar. The model is generated by applying the GIS multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) and analytical hierarchical process (AHP). The model resulted in 580 ha of very high suitable (VHS) zones, mostly located in the northwestern part of the city. However, only 0.05% (N=38) of VHS zones are consolidated areas larger than 2 ha. Among VHS c
onsolidated areas (>2 ha), the optimal one is depicted based on ownership verification. This framework can be applied to other small cities with some minor modifications. For future research, we suggest including residents with physical disabilities in the selection and landscaping of the location.
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