Temporal image and audio analysis as a new tool for assessing the quality of urban space

The quality of urban space significantly influences the sustainability and well-being of cities; however, assessing the quantity of this attribute has proven challenging for urban planning. The research project ‘Quantifying Quality’ uses a new approach to developing quantitative datasets through analytical methods that augment the metrics currently employed to evaluate urban quality. The research utilises open-source software platforms to conduct image and audio analysis, assessing the properties of diverse urban spaces. On this basis, qualitative metrics can inform design parameters for additional algorithmic methods to generate a numerically evidence-based model for urban space design.. The analysis results reveal unprecedented insights into the relationships between urban space attributes, their perceived quality, and their determinants. The paper proposes that these advanced image and audio analysis tools enhance understanding of the urban environment, improving the potential for evidence-based decision-making in urban planning, design, and policy formulation.