Effects of seasonal environment changes on greenway use intensity: Evidence from the Huangpu River waterfront greenway in Shanghai, China

The use intensity of urban greenways is significantly influenced by seasonal environmental fluctuations, which have been frequently overlooked in previous studies yet hold great importance for urban planning. This study bridges this critical gap by proposing a comprehensive analytical framework that combines both built environment and micro environment factors to evaluate seasonal variations in greenway use intensity. Specifically, the framework incorporates street view images captured via wearable GoPro cameras across all four seasons. Through the random forest regression models, the study analyzed how seasonal shifts influence greenway use intensity. The results indicate that while the impact of built environment factors accounts for more than half of the weight on greenway use intensity, seasonal factors still make a significant contribution, emphasizing their secondary but substantial impact. Moreover, the results also reveal a distinct seasonal pattern in the determinants of greenway use intensity. In summer, the sky view factor is the dominant influential factor, whereas in winter, the focus shifts to POIs. The patterns of the sky view factor and the green view index on greenway usage varied significantly across seasons, while the effects of most other variables remained consistent across seasons. By considering the dynamic interplay between built and seasonal environmental variables, this study advocates for a more adaptive and responsive approach to urban greenway planning and design.