A Spatial Analysis of Perceived Wellbeing During Large Urban Infrastructure Construction: The Case of the Flyover in Thessaloniki, Greece

Large-scale urban infrastructure projects are essential, yet they often introduce prolonged disruptions that affect residents’ perceived wellbeing. Existing research has demonstrated temporary declines in wellbeing during construction periods, but often relies on aggregate indicators, longitudinal averages, aggregate indicators, or proximity-based measures, providing limited insight into neighbourhood-level spatial inequalities and local clustering. This study addresses this gap by developing a Perceived Wellbeing Indicator (PWI) and applying a place-based, spatially explicit framework to examine patterns of perceived wellbeing associated with the Thessaloniki Flyover project. A questionnaire survey captured residents’ experiences of stress, accessibility, and perceived air and noise pollution. Indicator weights were derived using a hybrid approach combining Principal Component Analysis and the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis techniques were applied to identify clusters, spatial outliers, and neighbourhood typologies of perceived wellbeing, which were further interpreted with child dependency ratios and perceived air pollution and noise annoyance. Results reveal pronounced spatial heterogeneity in perceived wellbeing. Low-wellbeing clusters are concentrated in Evosmos, Sykies, and Ano Toumpa, while higher wellbeing is observed in Efkarpia, Kato Toumpa, and Thermi. Lower PWI values are more frequent near the Flyover axis, indicating a spatial concentration of lower values in its vicinity, although similar patterns also appear in districts distant from the project. Overall, the findings demonstrate that perceived wellbeing is shaped by a combination of local environmental, socioeconomic, and neighbourhood conditions, including pre-existing spatial inequalities, rather than infrastructure proximity alone. By providing a spatially explicit understanding of wellbeing, this framework supports sustainable urban planning, enabling interventions that reduce environmental stress, promote social equity, and enhance community resilience during and after large-scale infrastructure development.