Digital footprints of play: Decoding child-friendliness of cities through PPGIS

Abstract

Cities are complex environments where balancing diverse needs is essential. Despite an increasing urban child population, urban design often overlooks their specific needs. Research indicates that children who interact with well-designed outdoor environments experience better cognitive and physical development. Standardized spatial indicators are essential for assessing child-friendliness of cities, yet systematic, comparative approaches to evaluating urban playability remain limited. This study addresses that gap by providing a scalable method called Playscape-mapper. We collaborated with 1086 children from the Kurdish cities of Mariwan and Sine/Sanandaj to co-create spatial-knowledge using PPGIS-based digital-mapping. The study tested two metrics—HAPiDAYS (Highly-Appreciated Places Index for Days) and SUBindex (Sparkling Urban Blend Index)—to compare child-friendliness of two cities. HAPiDAYS measures the impact of popular public spaces on children's daily routines, while SUBindex assesses the overlap between highly-used and popular areas. Children contributed 634 visualizations and geographically-based stories of their favorite places, enriching planners' insights. Results showed significant differences, with Sine scoring higher on both indicators (HAPiDAYS: 37.5 vs. 29; SUBindex: 49.5 % vs. 24 %). These metrics go beyond simple popularity by incorporating accessibility and Frequency of Visits/FOV and show how digital-mapping can effectively quantify urban child-friendliness and facilitate city comparisons, providing policymakers with effective child-centered tools.