Characterizing and Measuring the Environmental Amenities of Urban Recreation Leisure Regions Based on Image and Text Fusion Perception: A Case Study of Nanjing, China

Abstract

Quantitative evaluation of the environmental amenities (EAs) in urban recreation and leisure regions (URLRs) can provide stronger support for the government to enhance the quality of urban leisure space and improve the well-being of urban residents. Considering the diversity of leisure spaces and the complexity of environmental perception perspectives, this study proposes a comprehensive environmental measurement framework based on image and text fusion perception, which utilizes big data to perceive and quantify the EA features of URLRs comprehensively and efficiently. The study of the URLRs in Nanjing, China, was conducted as an empirical study. The results indicate the following: (1) When it comes to leisure environments, the top concerns for most people are service, hygiene, reputation, and walkability. (2) The EA level of URLRs in Nanjing generally decreases from the center to the outside and shows regional differentiation. (3) EA features in Nanjing’s URLRs exhibit a spatial pattern of similarity in the center and at each district’s edges. This study enhances our understanding of leisure regions’ environmental features that contribute to quality. The measurement results support understanding the spatial heterogeneity patterns of urban leisure activities and vibrancy. Furthermore, valuable urban planning and policy suggestions are made to promote sustainable urban development.