Constructing High-Quality Livable Cities: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Urban Street Livability Using an Approach Based on Human Needs Theory, Street View Images, and Deep Learning

Driven by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 11), the construction of high-quality livable cities has emerged as a central issue on the global agenda. However, existing research primarily focuses on optimizing physical functions, neglecting the dynamic hierarchical nature and emot...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Minzhi Li, Zhongxiu Fan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/5/1095
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850257515314413568
author Minzhi Li
Zhongxiu Fan
author_facet Minzhi Li
Zhongxiu Fan
author_sort Minzhi Li
collection DOAJ
description Driven by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 11), the construction of high-quality livable cities has emerged as a central issue on the global agenda. However, existing research primarily focuses on optimizing physical functions, neglecting the dynamic hierarchical nature and emotional experiences of residents’ needs. This study, employing Guangzhou’s Tianhe District as an empirical case, proposes an innovative framework that integrates Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory, the Method of Empathy-Based Stories (MEBS), and deep learning technology for the first time. It constructs a dynamic assessment model of “needs-streetscape elements-spatial quality”, systematically analyzing the livability characteristics and driving mechanisms of high-density urban streets. Tianhe District’s street spaces exhibit the common issue of “functional-experiential imbalance” faced by high-density cities. Furthermore, different streetscape elements in the city demonstrate significant variability in satisfying different hierarchical demand dimensions, with strong sequential relationships among these hierarchies. Adjusting and optimizing the relationships between elements can result in the creation of higher-quality street spaces that meet higher-level needs. The research findings provide differentiated renewal pathways for tropical high-density cities, offer methodological support for global urban governance under the SDG 11 objectives, and indicate directions for improving street quality in urban regeneration practices.
format Article
id doaj-art-bdbf12d2932241d185ffd350d8e23cab
institution OA Journals
issn 2073-445X
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Land
spelling doaj-art-bdbf12d2932241d185ffd350d8e23cab2025-08-20T01:56:24ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-05-01145109510.3390/land14051095Constructing High-Quality Livable Cities: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Urban Street Livability Using an Approach Based on Human Needs Theory, Street View Images, and Deep LearningMinzhi Li0Zhongxiu Fan1State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building and Urban Science, Department of Landscape of School of Architecture, South China University of Technology, 381 Wushan road, Guangzhou 510500, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building and Urban Science, Department of Landscape of School of Architecture, South China University of Technology, 381 Wushan road, Guangzhou 510500, ChinaDriven by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 11), the construction of high-quality livable cities has emerged as a central issue on the global agenda. However, existing research primarily focuses on optimizing physical functions, neglecting the dynamic hierarchical nature and emotional experiences of residents’ needs. This study, employing Guangzhou’s Tianhe District as an empirical case, proposes an innovative framework that integrates Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory, the Method of Empathy-Based Stories (MEBS), and deep learning technology for the first time. It constructs a dynamic assessment model of “needs-streetscape elements-spatial quality”, systematically analyzing the livability characteristics and driving mechanisms of high-density urban streets. Tianhe District’s street spaces exhibit the common issue of “functional-experiential imbalance” faced by high-density cities. Furthermore, different streetscape elements in the city demonstrate significant variability in satisfying different hierarchical demand dimensions, with strong sequential relationships among these hierarchies. Adjusting and optimizing the relationships between elements can result in the creation of higher-quality street spaces that meet higher-level needs. The research findings provide differentiated renewal pathways for tropical high-density cities, offer methodological support for global urban governance under the SDG 11 objectives, and indicate directions for improving street quality in urban regeneration practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/5/1095livabilityquality of life assessmenthuman needsdeep learningurban street planningstreet view images
spellingShingle Minzhi Li
Zhongxiu Fan
Constructing High-Quality Livable Cities: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Urban Street Livability Using an Approach Based on Human Needs Theory, Street View Images, and Deep Learning
Land
livability
quality of life assessment
human needs
deep learning
urban street planning
street view images
title Constructing High-Quality Livable Cities: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Urban Street Livability Using an Approach Based on Human Needs Theory, Street View Images, and Deep Learning
title_full Constructing High-Quality Livable Cities: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Urban Street Livability Using an Approach Based on Human Needs Theory, Street View Images, and Deep Learning
title_fullStr Constructing High-Quality Livable Cities: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Urban Street Livability Using an Approach Based on Human Needs Theory, Street View Images, and Deep Learning
title_full_unstemmed Constructing High-Quality Livable Cities: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Urban Street Livability Using an Approach Based on Human Needs Theory, Street View Images, and Deep Learning
title_short Constructing High-Quality Livable Cities: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Urban Street Livability Using an Approach Based on Human Needs Theory, Street View Images, and Deep Learning
title_sort constructing high quality livable cities a comprehensive evaluation of urban street livability using an approach based on human needs theory street view images and deep learning
topic livability
quality of life assessment
human needs
deep learning
urban street planning
street view images
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/5/1095
work_keys_str_mv AT minzhili constructinghighqualitylivablecitiesacomprehensiveevaluationofurbanstreetlivabilityusinganapproachbasedonhumanneedstheorystreetviewimagesanddeeplearning
AT zhongxiufan constructinghighqualitylivablecitiesacomprehensiveevaluationofurbanstreetlivabilityusinganapproachbasedonhumanneedstheorystreetviewimagesanddeeplearning