Physical characteristics and perceived security in urban parks: Investigation in the Egyptian context

The objective of this study is to investigate in the Egyptian context the physical factors identified in the international literature as being associated with perceived security in urban parks. Survey questionnaires were administrated to a sample of lay-people and design professionals. The questionnaires asked the participants to rate photographs representing scenes of urban parks in Cairo in terms of perceived security. The design professionals were asked to rate the photographs in terms of eight physical characteristics: (1) level of spatial definition, (2) density of vegetation, (3) level of maintenance, (4) signs of vandalism, (5) amount of light, (6) amount of signage, (7) possibility of being seen, and (8) possibility of seeing around. Results yielded significant correlations between each of the physical characteristics investigated and perceived security. A factor analysis identified “landscape design and upkeep” factor and “visibility and way-finding” factor to be important predictors of perceived security in urban parks.