From data to design: Social network insights for urban design and regeneration

Abstract

Urban public spaces are pivotal to the welfare and prosperity of modern cities. Recognizing their importance, this research addresses the critical gap in understanding and enhancing the qualities of these spaces through advanced analytics, focusing on Tehran's main traditional market, the Bazaar. A novel methodological framework combining Social Network Analysis (SNA), and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, supported by location-based social media reviews, was employed. This innovative approach assessed the Bazaar's comfort, vitality, and safety, analyzing real-time public interactions and perceptions through social media data. The findings highlighted the Bazaar's central role in Tehran's urban landscape and identified the need for strategic design interventions. These interventions aimed to improve walkability, comfort, safety, and diversity, and have been successfully implemented, significantly enhancing the Bazaar's quality and usability. This study not only advances urban studies and planning by providing a model for urban public space analysis but also underscores the value of social media data in urban analytics. The successful revitalization of Tehran's Bazaar sets a precedent for enriching urban experiences and boosting city vitality through similar interventions in other urban spaces.