Entropy approach in spatial quality assessment

This study analyzes the spatial quality level of Gökçay Recreation Area, located within the boundaries of Isparta Province, by using quantitative methods based on expert evaluations. The main aim of the study is to determine the relative importance of the main criteria constituting spatial quality in urban open and green spaces and to reveal the overall spatial quality performance of the area. In this context, spatial quality is examined under five main criteria: accessibility, comfort and image, uses and activities, social interaction, and safety. Within the scope of the research, evaluation data were obtained through a questionnaire administered to experts from different disciplines. Based on the scores provided by the experts, average values for the main criteria were calculated, and the relative importance levels of the criteria were determined using the Entropy Weighting Method. While the entropy method reveals the discriminative power of the criteria in explaining spatial quality, average and weighted scores were used to evaluate the spatial quality performance level of the area. According to the findings, the overall spatial quality score of Gökçay Recreation Area was calculated as 3.064, indicating that the spatial quality level of the area is above the medium level on a five-point Likert scale. The results show that social interaction and uses and activities are more decisive criteria in explaining spatial quality, while criteria such as comfort and image and accessibility indicate potential for spatial improvement. This study emphasizes the importance of evaluating both the performance level and the discriminative power of criteria in spatial quality assessments and demonstrates the applicability of the Entropy Weighting Method based on expert evaluations in analyzing the spatial quality of urban open and green spaces. The findings are expected to contribute to planning and design decisions for similar public spaces.