Evaluation of spatial performance of metro-led urban underground public space: A case study in Shanghai

Under the guidance of Shanghai Underground Space Concept Plan (2005–2020) (SUSCP 2005-2020), urban underground public space (UUPS) has been built and put into operation in metro-led areas of the central urban area of Shanghai. It helps to create extra space for public activities, strengthens local urban compactness and promotes local walkability and rail transit services. This study proposed two simple evaluation frameworks for the spatial performance and development demand of metro-led UUPS cases. Twenty metro-led UUPS cases in the central urban area of Shanghai were selected as the study areas according to SUSCP. Based on the balance concept and the criterion of the node-place model, it can be identified whether the UUPS supply satisfies its demand in the evaluated metro-led areas. The results showed that the UUPS of Wujiaochang-Jiangwan Stadium achieved the best spatial performance among the twenty research areas, especially for the sub-performance of social and economic development. Furthermore, the UUPS of West Nanjing Road, East Nanjing Road, Lujiazui, South Shanghai Railway Station and Wujiaochang-Jiangwan Stadium closely approached the relatively unbalanced situations, indicating an imbalance between UUPS supply and demand of these metro-led areas. Further optimization and renewal planning were needed to avoid the future potential imbalance. The evaluation methods and results can be used to give insights for the future development of metro-led UUPS in Chinese metropolitan cities.