Urban Sustainability and Green Spaces: A Comprehensive Analysis of Spatiotemporal Variations and Residents’ Perspective in Lahore, Pakistan

Green spaces are substantial for creating a healthier and sustainable living environment in cities. This research investigated the spatiotemporal variations in surface temperature and vegetation and their impact on green space usage in Lahore City. Remote sensing and GIS techniques were used to analyze land surface temperature (LST), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and their correlation in the selected months of March, June, and December in the year 2023 in Lahore. The functionality of green spaces was examined with a random sampling survey of 1100 residents in the hotspot zones identified in the LST analysis. The results revealed an inverse relation between LST and NDVI with higher vegetation values and lesser surface temperature. The questionnaire analysis showed that 62% visit green spaces daily and 83% prefer walking as a mode in all seasons. Thirty-four percent visited green spaces in June, and 78% agreed that weather impacts their decision to visit parks. Eighty-three percent of respondents said that green spaces lack illumination, 96% agreed on sunshade absence, and 38% of parks do not have adequate park furniture. The residents have access to green spaces, but there is a dire need to improve their functionality, especially in neighborhood parks. Recommendations include more gardeners for neighborhood parks, regular maintenance schedules, and installations of park furniture, annual park assessment mechanisms, and sufficient funding by park authorities to restore aesthetics.