Artificial Intelligence and Landscape Sustainability: Comparative Insights from Urban Sports and Recreation Areas in Turkey and Lithuania

This study examines the integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-based strategies within the framework of landscape sustainability science and urban ecology, focusing on urban sports and recreation areas in Turkey and Lithuania. In the era of sustainable urban transformation, AI technologies offer new opportunities for maintaining ecological integrity, enhancing green infrastructure connectivity, and supporting adaptive management of urban ecosystems. The research aims to comparatively analyze the role and effectiveness of AI applications—such as intelligent waste management, predictive maintenance, and spatial planning tools—in promoting clean, safe, and ecologically resilient environments. A qualitative design was employed, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 30 experts, including local administrators, facility managers, environmental professionals, AI specialists, and academics from both countries. Thematic analysis using NVivo revealed key themes linking AI functions to ecological outcomes, including improved resource efficiency, habitat connectivity, and data-informed governance. Results show that Lithuania’s institutionalized green infrastructure facilitates multi-scale AI adoption, while Turkey’s evolving policy framework presents significant potential for system integration. The study emphasizes the necessity of embedding AI-driven ecological indicators into landscape-scale planning and developing an interdisciplinary governance model to achieve sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban ecosystems.