GIS-based multi-criteria and network accessibility analysis for identifying suitable areas for urban leisure green spaces in Sintra, Portugal

A significant portion of Sintra's population, approximately 21%, lacks walkable access to leisure green spaces (LGS), with the most acute deficits observed in high-density eastern neighborhoods. This study addresses these inequities by developing a spatially explicit framework that prioritizes locations for new green space provision using GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). The approach integrates demographic pressure, pedestrian accessibility, land-use suitability, proximity to schools, and environmental constraints, with weights derived from the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The analysis identified 96 highly suitable candidate areas, from which five priority sites were selected. These interventions could potentially improve walkable access to LGS for approximately 85,600 residents, demonstrating a practical application of equity-oriented and network-based spatial analysis in urban green infrastructure planning.

Rochette Cordeiro, A. M., Pereira Fialho, J. F., & Lameiras, J. M. (2026). GIS-based multi-criteria and network accessibility analysis for identifying suitable areas for urban leisure green spaces in Sintra, Portugal. Discover Cities, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44327-026-00336-7