GIS-MCDA for Outdoor Recreation Site Suitability and Urban Well-Being: Evidence From Riyadh

Abstract

Outdoor activities play a vital role in sustainable development, significantly enhancing quality of life and social well-being and fostering a healthy urban environment. This paper applies a Geographic Information System-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis GIS-MCDA framework to identify a suitable location for outdoor activities in Riyadh that promote a healthier urban environment. Five criteria related to aesthetic quality, equitable accessibility, environmental protection, functional integration, and urban resilience were identified and converted into influence factors. Simultaneously, residents' priorities were gathered through a structured questionnaire, while experts' judgment was obtained via Delphi rounds to integrate experts' and residents' priorities together. Moreover, GIS is used to model the suitability of locations for outdoor recreation. The results indicate that the absolute scenario assigns the highest priorities to aesthetic quality, followed by urban resilience, environmental mitigation, functional integration, and equitable accessibility. The suitability map reveals that highly suitable areas that balance all criteria are primarily located around built-up areas that provide suitable terrains, high accessibility, environment buffer zones, opportunity or untapped assets, and secure and resilient zones. The finding highlights the potential of GIS-MCDA as a spatial decision support tool for urban and recreational planning.