Effects of urban green spaces on visiting population of railway station areas

Abstract While rapid urbanization is progressing globally, some developed cities are facing population decline and urban de-densification, raising concerns about regional economic deterioration and reduced livability. As a potential approach to addressing these challenges, the development of urban green spaces has attracted increasing attention. Urban green spaces serve as venues for events, recreation, and health-related activities and are expected to enhance citizens’ quality of life while fostering urban vibrancy. This study aims to clarify the effects of urban green spaces on the visiting population within urban areas by examining the relationship between urban vegetation derived from satellite imagery and the staying population. First, the normalized difference vegetation index is calculated from satellite imagery to identify vegetation, and the green coverage ratio within station catchment areas is estimated to characterize urban green spaces. Subsequently, the staying population is quantified by analyzing human mobility based on GPS location data. By examining the relationship between urban green spaces and the staying population, this study discusses the influence of urban green space development on urban population presence. Some findings need to be addressed here.