Evaluation Approaches to Urban Wildscapes: A Systematic Review of Exposure Pathways, Psychological Health, and Socio-Ecological Resilience

Urban wildscapes (UWS), characterized by low levels of management and spontaneous vegetation, are increasingly recognized as components of blue–green infrastructure with potential benefits for climate adaptation, health equity, and socio-ecological resilience. However, these benefits depend on individuals’ actual environmental exposure in daily life, which is shaped by mobility, activity patterns, and temporal constraints, leading to unequal access across social groups. Despite this, existing research has largely focused on public perceptions and acceptance of UWS, with limited attention to whether such evaluations reflect real-world exposure processes. This study conducts a systematic review of 30 empirical studies, examining spatial types, evaluation methods and media, and psychological dimensions. The results reveal three patterns: a focus on marginal spaces, the dominance of visual media and scale-based methods, and an emphasis on affective and cognitive responses over functional dimensions. These findings suggest that current research captures mediated perceptions rather than lived exposure, potentially constraining understanding of health outcomes and equity. This paper calls for a shift toward an exposure-oriented framework integrating mobility, activity spaces, and environmental contact.