Effects of Urban Green Space Landscape Structure on Urban Vitality - A Case Study of Seoul -

Urban vitality is a key indicator of urban activity and social interaction and is an important element of sustainable urban vitality. Urban green spaces are widely recognized as major factors that promote urban vitality. However, in highly urbanized cities, opportunities to increase the quantity of green space are limited. Consequently, attention has been directed toward the spatial arrangement and structural characteristics of existing green spaces. This study aims to analyze the effects of green space landscape structure on urban vitality at the administrative-dong level in Seoul and to propose spatial planning directions to enhance urban vitality. In this study, linear regression model (LM), generalized additive models (GAM), and geographically weighted regression (GWR) were employed to examine the relationships between urban vitality and green space landscape structure. Socioeconomic and accessibility-related variables were additionally included to account for regional differences. Urban vitality was quantified using outdoor activity population data representing the urban activity intensity and Point of Interest (POI) data reflecting the spatial distribution of urban functions, such as commercial, cultural, and service facilities. Since the effects of green spaces vary not only by area but also by spatial arrangement and connectivity, which influence accessibility and usability, green space landscape structure was characterized using PLAND, PD, LSI, ENN_MN, and SPLIT. The results indicate that green space area shows a negative relationship with urban vitality, whereas patch density, fragmentation, and Euclidean patch distance exhibit significant nonlinear positive effects. In addition, the impact of these variables varies across regions, confirming spatial heterogeneity in urban vitality. These findings suggest that dispersed green space layouts and spatial planning strategies that consider local urban environmental characteristics are more effective for enhancing urban vitality than simply increasing the green space area. This study provides foundational evidence for developing qualitative and spatial strategies for green space planning in urban master plans and park and green space plans.