A MULTI-CRITERIA TOPSIS-BASED APPROACH FOR THE URBAN SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC PARKS

Urban public parks are becoming reference points for new environmental strategies in cities. Since fear of crime is often cited as one of the main obstacles to the development and subsequent use of green spaces, it is essential for urban planning to investigate the causes and spatial configurations of fear to encourage all community members to increase their participation in public parks. The contribution points out that crime is influenced by many factors, but the environmental context is considered a fundamental component. It is therefore believed that a correct design of urban green spaces can significantly improve the perception of safety in public spaces. This study proposes a methodology for assessing the safety of urban parks. Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques, particularly the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method, form the basis of the proposed approach. The application phase, conducted on 16 parks in the city of Milan, aims to identify the factors that influence the perception of urban security. By exploiting the potential of geoTOPSIS, it is possible to enrich the safety analysis, allowing for consideration of the spatial and environmental variables that influence the perception of safety, thus allowing a more accurate and informed assessment of the safety context in public parks. The aim is to outline a methodological approach to assess and improve safety in urban public parks, while providing practical guidance for designing and managing these spaces to improve the overall quality of urban life.