Evaluating the impact of spatial interaction on human capital's sense of belonging to the city: the case of Kutahya

Abstract

Urban public spaces that are inclusive are crucial for fostering a sense of spatial belonging. Several factors impact the level of spatial belonging, such as the increase in urbanization leading to a rise in the population living in cities and changes to people's living spaces due to reasons like migration and natural disasters. These public spaces take on various forms and serve various functions, providing many advantages to urban dwellers. High-quality urban open and green spaces and pedestrian-friendly neighborhood areas can facilitate positive social connections (Stanley, 2012). When people interact in public areas, they are more likely to participate in society, increasing social connections. Moser et al. (2002) suggest that social ties are critical to feeling a sense of belonging in one's community: as the density of local relationships grows, so does the proportion of people who feel completely at home (Rollero, 2010).

Public spaces in cities should be accessible to all individuals. This way, people from different socio-economic backgrounds are encouraged to come together and utilize the same spaces. For sustainable urban development, individuals living in the city must have access to public spaces and feel a strong sense of belonging. This research aims to analyze the relationship between the level of spatial interaction of human capital living in Kutahya, a middle-scale city located in the Aegean Region of Turkey, and their sense of attachment to the city. The importance of quality public space interactions for city attachment has been highlighted in various studies some of which are presented above. Kutahya is facing a severe problem of losing its human capital, which is hindering its developmental capacity. The analysis are conducted through GIS-based interviews. The study consists of three parts.

The first part includes literature reviews and case studies that examine the relationship between urban public spaces and spatial belonging. It also explores how spatial belonging changes based on different components.

The second part covers the methodology used to conduct the survey in the study area, Kütahya, using the participatory geographical information system software Maptionarre.

Lastly, the survey results were analyzed and discussed through a focus group to examine the reasons for low spatial belonging in public spaces. The literature research and survey results were evaluated together to determine what changes are needed in public spaces and what policies should be developed to increase the sense of belonging among people with low levels of spatial belonging.