Enhancing student-centered walking environments on university campuses through street view imagery and machine learning

Campus walking environments significantly influence college students' daily lives and shape their subjective perceptions. However, previous studies have been constrained by limited sample sizes and inefficient, time-consuming methodologies. To address these limitations, we developed a deep learning framework to evaluate campus walking perceptions across four universities in China's Yangtze River Delta region. Utilizing 15,596 Baidu Street View Images (BSVIs) and perceptual ratings from 100 volunteers across four dimensions—aesthetics, security, depression, and vitality—we employed four machine learning models to predict perceptual scores. Our results demonstrate that the Random Forest (RF) model outperformed others in predicting aesthetics, security, and vitality, while linear regression was most effective for depression. Spatial analysis revealed that perceptions of aesthetics, security, and vitality were concentrated in landmark areas and regions with high pedestrian flow. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that buildings exhibited stronger correlations with depression (β = 0.112) compared to other perceptual aspects. Conversely, vegetation (β = 0.032) and meadow (β = 0.176) elements significantly enhanced aesthetics. This study offers actionable insights for optimizing campus walking environments from a student-centered perspective, emphasizing the importance of spatial design and visual elements in enhancing students' perceptual experiences.