Identification of Inequities in Green Visibility and Ways to Increase Greenery in Neighborhoods: A Case Study of Wuhan, China

The rapid increase in urban population density driven by urban development has intensified inequity in urban green space distribution. Identifying the causes of changes in green equity and developing strategies to improve urban greening are crucial for optimizing resource allocation and alleviating...

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Main Authors: Xiaohua Guo, Chang Liu, Shibo Bi, Yuling Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/742
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author Xiaohua Guo
Chang Liu
Shibo Bi
Yuling Tang
author_facet Xiaohua Guo
Chang Liu
Shibo Bi
Yuling Tang
author_sort Xiaohua Guo
collection DOAJ
description The rapid increase in urban population density driven by urban development has intensified inequity in urban green space distribution. Identifying the causes of changes in green equity and developing strategies to improve urban greening are crucial for optimizing resource allocation and alleviating social inequalities. However, the long-term spatio-temporal evolution of green visibility and equity remains underexplored. This study utilized the “Time Machine” feature to capture street view images from 2014, 2017, and 2021, analyzing changes in green visibility and its equity across residential communities in Wuhan. Deep learning techniques and statistical methods, including the Gini coefficient and location quotient (LQ), were employed to assess the distribution and spatial equity of street-level greenery. The results showed that overall green visibility in Wuhan increased by 4.18% between 2014 and 2021. However, this improvement did not translate into better spatial equity, as the Gini coefficient consistently ranged between 0.4 and 0.5. Among the seven municipal districts, only the Jiang’an District demonstrated relatively equitable green visibility in 2017 and 2021. Despite a gradual reduction in disparities in green visibility, a spatial mismatch persisted between UGS growth and population distribution, leading to uneven patterns in UGS equity. This study explores the factors driving inequities in green visibility and proposes strategies to enhance urban greening. Key recommendations include integrating the green visibility equity evaluation framework into urban planning to guide fair green space allocation, prioritizing greenery in low-income neighborhoods, and reducing hardscapes to support the planting and maintenance of tall canopy trees. These measures aim to enhance accessible and visible green resources and promote equitable access across communities.
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spelling doaj-art-7a77c419d8464a3486c3e6fc7ab6f9262025-01-24T13:20:40ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-01-0115274210.3390/app15020742Identification of Inequities in Green Visibility and Ways to Increase Greenery in Neighborhoods: A Case Study of Wuhan, ChinaXiaohua Guo0Chang Liu1Shibo Bi2Yuling Tang3College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, ChinaSchool of Design Art & Media, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, ChinaThe rapid increase in urban population density driven by urban development has intensified inequity in urban green space distribution. Identifying the causes of changes in green equity and developing strategies to improve urban greening are crucial for optimizing resource allocation and alleviating social inequalities. However, the long-term spatio-temporal evolution of green visibility and equity remains underexplored. This study utilized the “Time Machine” feature to capture street view images from 2014, 2017, and 2021, analyzing changes in green visibility and its equity across residential communities in Wuhan. Deep learning techniques and statistical methods, including the Gini coefficient and location quotient (LQ), were employed to assess the distribution and spatial equity of street-level greenery. The results showed that overall green visibility in Wuhan increased by 4.18% between 2014 and 2021. However, this improvement did not translate into better spatial equity, as the Gini coefficient consistently ranged between 0.4 and 0.5. Among the seven municipal districts, only the Jiang’an District demonstrated relatively equitable green visibility in 2017 and 2021. Despite a gradual reduction in disparities in green visibility, a spatial mismatch persisted between UGS growth and population distribution, leading to uneven patterns in UGS equity. This study explores the factors driving inequities in green visibility and proposes strategies to enhance urban greening. Key recommendations include integrating the green visibility equity evaluation framework into urban planning to guide fair green space allocation, prioritizing greenery in low-income neighborhoods, and reducing hardscapes to support the planting and maintenance of tall canopy trees. These measures aim to enhance accessible and visible green resources and promote equitable access across communities.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/742urban greeninggreen view indexgreen space equitystreet view imagesdeep learning
spellingShingle Xiaohua Guo
Chang Liu
Shibo Bi
Yuling Tang
Identification of Inequities in Green Visibility and Ways to Increase Greenery in Neighborhoods: A Case Study of Wuhan, China
Applied Sciences
urban greening
green view index
green space equity
street view images
deep learning
title Identification of Inequities in Green Visibility and Ways to Increase Greenery in Neighborhoods: A Case Study of Wuhan, China
title_full Identification of Inequities in Green Visibility and Ways to Increase Greenery in Neighborhoods: A Case Study of Wuhan, China
title_fullStr Identification of Inequities in Green Visibility and Ways to Increase Greenery in Neighborhoods: A Case Study of Wuhan, China
title_full_unstemmed Identification of Inequities in Green Visibility and Ways to Increase Greenery in Neighborhoods: A Case Study of Wuhan, China
title_short Identification of Inequities in Green Visibility and Ways to Increase Greenery in Neighborhoods: A Case Study of Wuhan, China
title_sort identification of inequities in green visibility and ways to increase greenery in neighborhoods a case study of wuhan china
topic urban greening
green view index
green space equity
street view images
deep learning
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/742
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