Aesthetic Assessment of Public Art in Smart Cities: A Comparison of AHP in Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai

This research uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to assess public art aesthetics in smart cities through comparison among Guangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai. Based on literature review, four dimensions—authenticity, collective engagement, knowledge, and risk—were determined. Fifteen public art and urban planning experts scored indicators and city performance. AHP analysis indicated authenticity (0.33) and knowledge (0.26) as the most weighted dimensions, showing evaluators' emphasis on cultural integration and intellectual inspiration. Collective engagement (0.22) and risk (0.19) followed. Guangzhou led in overall aesthetics (0.342) with excellence in authenticity and risk management; Beijing in knowledge-driven projects, and Shanghai in collective engagement via digital innovation. Findings demand differentiated public art planning based on local cultural and technological contexts. The research recommends tailor-made planning approaches to the three cities, discusses limitations, and provides quantitative implications for optimizing public art policy.