Using GIS to asses availability to urban greenspaces in Culiacan City

Abstract

This study presents a description of the availability of green areas in the city of Culiacán, including their distribution, surface area, and accessibility for the population based on the required distances to reach them and the allocation per person in Culiacán, Mexico. The methodology used follows the proposal by the World Health Organization (WHO) for determining the indicator of urban green spaces. A geospatial analysis was conducted, determining the influence areas of green areas larger than 1 hectare within a 300-meter radius, using ArcGIS 10.7.1 software as the analysis tool. The analysis was performed at the level of Basic Geostatistical Areas (AGEBs) using geostatistical data and information from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). The results show that the allocation of green space per inhabitant in the city of Culiacán is 5.3 m²/person, which is significantly below the WHO’s recommended range of 9 to 15 m²/person. Additionally, based on their availability and distribution, these green areas are only useful to 20% of the population.