Empowering Sustainability Advancement in Urban Public Spaces Through Low-Cost Technology and Citizen Engagement

This conference paper investigates the role of low-cost technology and citizen engagement in promoting sustainability in urban public spaces. With the global population increasingly residing in cities, creating inclusive, safe, and sustainable urban environments has become imperative. Focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 11.7, which emphasizes universal access to safe and inclusive public spaces, this study addresses the challenges of data scarcity and limited community involvement. Through a large-scale community-driven spatial survey in Nablus, key findings are presented, including disparities in space distribution and accessibility, gender imbalances in usage, inadequacies in physical features, and safety concerns. Leveraging low-cost technology, such as smartphone applications and open-source data collection tools, the study overcomes data limitations and facilitates citizen participation. The research underscores the importance of citizen engagement in assessing and improving public spaces and highlights the need for collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and community stakeholders. The paper concludes with recommendations for targeted interventions, long-term impact assessment, and evidence-based policies to enhance sustainability and inclusivity in urban public spaces. This work contributes to advancing SDG 11.7 and offers insights for practitioners and policymakers seeking to create vibrant and equitable urban environments.