Studying Utility of Public Open Spaces: A Synthesis of Variables Influencing Public Open Spaces Usage Through Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Public Open Spaces (POS) have been a subject of interest over the years. However, systematic investigations of their utility are limited. Evaluation of the utility of POS can help inform interventions for urban planning and design, as well as address the issues of underutilization of POS in urban areas. Utility in this context denotes the usability of POS by individuals. A systematic literature review following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines was conducted which identified 68 papers on POS research, focusing on utility, use, usability, and their corresponding factors, indicators, influence, and impact, to extract significant information. The study extracted key themes in POS literature and derived a categorized list of variables that influence POS usage. The results and findings can serve as a database for various methodological approaches, and factors and variables useful for mapping and evaluating the utility of POS, which would inform future empirical work and assist in planning and policymaking.