The Effect of Perceived Real-Scene Environment of a River in a High-Density Urban Area on Emotions

Abstract

Public sub-health has emerged as a pressing concern in densely populated urban areas. The urban environment, with its innate ability to modulate public emotions, harbors a precious resource in the form of urban rivers, which provide a serene and verdant space. This study focuses on the Liangma River in Chaoyang District, Beijing, selecting two rivers with diverse landscape features as the subjects of research. By employing physiological feedback data in conjunction with a subjective questionnaire, the emotional impact of high-density urban riverside spaces on individuals is quantitatively analyzed. Electrocardiogram (ECG) data, eye movement data, and the positive–negative emotion scale (PANAS) are subjected to data analysis. The study reveals the following key findings: (1) The riverside landscape in high-density urban areas exerts a positive influence on emotional well-being. Individuals in more natural river settings experience greater levels of contentment and relaxation, while those in areas with a higher proportion of artificial elements exhibit increased excitement and happiness. Moreover, scenes characterized by a greater degree of greening have a more pronounced soothing effect on mood. (2) A specific correlation between visual characteristics and emotional fluctuations is observed. The waterfront side of the trail exerts a stronger spatial attraction, and a higher proportion of blue and green spaces significantly contributes to stress relief. (3) The utilization of human-induced engineering technology, which captures emotional changes through physiological feedback, demonstrates a higher level of accuracy and is well-suited for small-scale studies. These findings highlight the potential of arranging diverse types of waterfront footpath landscapes in high-density urban areas and approaching waterfront landscape design and transformation from a novel perspective centered on health intervention. Such efforts hold promise for alleviating the daily pressures faced by the general public and fostering the development of a “healthy city”.

Urban Landscape Perception Research Based on the ERP Method: A Case Study of Jingdezhen, China

“…For instance, Zhu et al [33] conducted research on the environmental factors related to nighttime walking safety by using GSR and GPS signals. Li et al [34] combined eye tracking and ECG data to analyze the emotional impact of high-density urban riverside spaces on individuals. Bower et al [35] measured people's responses to color adjustments in architectural environments using EEG brain signals.…”

Urban Waterfront Regeneration on Ecological and Historical Dimensions: Insight from a Unique Case in Beijing, China

“…At the macroscale, Beijing's waterfront urban design is supposed to implement ecological shorelines with flexible forms to replace existing artificial canals [29]. Through the expansion and renovation of the waterfront corridor, the greenspace pattern of Beijing will be integrated, the relationship between water and greenspace will be strengthened, and a net-like urban greening system will be formed.…”

“…However, most of the existing studies on Beijing's waterfront regeneration focus on a single dimension of regeneration, such as landscape design [28][29][30], ecological regeneration [31], and cultural heritage [32]. There is a lack of studies that combine historical and ecological dimensions on urban waterfront regeneration design [21].…”