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

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 questionn...

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Main Authors: Amira M. Mahrous, Yasser M. Moustafa, Manal A. Abou El-Ela
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2018-12-01
Series:Ain Shams Engineering Journal
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090447918300583
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spelling doaj-16ce38f27b4242e4ae4c1cfcbedfdd482021-06-02T18:31:31ZengElsevierAin Shams Engineering Journal2090-44792018-12-019430553066Physical characteristics and perceived security in urban parks: Investigation in the Egyptian contextAmira M. Mahrous0Yasser M. Moustafa1Manal A. Abou El-Ela2Dept. of Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, British University in Egypt, Egypt; Corresponding author.Dept. of Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology – Cairo Campus, Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport, EgyptDept. of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Benha University, EgyptThe 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. Keywords: Perceived security, Fear of crime, Physical characteristics, Urban parks, Cairo, Egypthttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090447918300583
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Amira M. Mahrous
Yasser M. Moustafa
Manal A. Abou El-Ela
spellingShingle Amira M. Mahrous
Yasser M. Moustafa
Manal A. Abou El-Ela
Physical characteristics and perceived security in urban parks: Investigation in the Egyptian context
Ain Shams Engineering Journal
author_facet Amira M. Mahrous
Yasser M. Moustafa
Manal A. Abou El-Ela
author_sort Amira M. Mahrous
title Physical characteristics and perceived security in urban parks: Investigation in the Egyptian context
title_short Physical characteristics and perceived security in urban parks: Investigation in the Egyptian context
title_full Physical characteristics and perceived security in urban parks: Investigation in the Egyptian context
title_fullStr Physical characteristics and perceived security in urban parks: Investigation in the Egyptian context
title_full_unstemmed Physical characteristics and perceived security in urban parks: Investigation in the Egyptian context
title_sort physical characteristics and perceived security in urban parks: investigation in the egyptian context
publisher Elsevier
series Ain Shams Engineering Journal
issn 2090-4479
publishDate 2018-12-01
description 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. Keywords: Perceived security, Fear of crime, Physical characteristics, Urban parks, Cairo, Egypt
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090447918300583
work_keys_str_mv AT amirammahrous physicalcharacteristicsandperceivedsecurityinurbanparksinvestigationintheegyptiancontext
AT yassermmoustafa physicalcharacteristicsandperceivedsecurityinurbanparksinvestigationintheegyptiancontext
AT manalaabouelela physicalcharacteristicsandperceivedsecurityinurbanparksinvestigationintheegyptiancontext
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