Integrating Space Syntax and Drone-Based Monitoring for City Metabolism Analysis in Suburban Public Spaces

Suburban areas increasingly shape contemporary urbanisation, yet public-space dynamics in these environments are weakly represented by conventional urban indicators. This study examines suburban public-space use as a behavioural dimension of urban metabolism, understood here as the observable patterns of human movement, activity, and co-presence occurring within suburban public spaces. It addresses the limited ability of density- or infrastructure-based measures to capture everyday spatial practices in dispersed, car-oriented settings. While urban metabolism research has expanded beyond material and energy flows, empirical evidence linking configurational accessibility with directly observed public-space behaviour in suburban contexts remains limited. To address this gap, we integrate district-scale space syntax analysis with site-scale UAV-based observation across five public spaces in and around Gdańsk, Poland. Based on a dataset comprising 30 standard observation sessions conducted in September and October 2024, spatial syntax indicators (integration and choice) were used to characterise configurational accessibility and support location selection, while UAV monitoring captured traffic intensity, stationary presence, diversity of activities, and temporal rhythms of use. The results reveal distinct behavioural metabolic profiles shaped by interactions between spatial configuration, functional programming, and temporal dynamics. These profiles vary depending on the function of public spaces and dominant modes of movement (pedestrian or vehicular). The study demonstrates that suburban urban metabolism cannot be interpreted through configurational accessibility or residential density alone. By linking space syntax measures with a repeatable UAV observation protocol, the proposed framework supports comparative assessment of suburban public-space performance and informs planning interventions aimed at suburban transformation and improved accessibility.