Do people adapt to where they live? A comparative analysis of perceived physical urban pleasantness using a quantitative model

Abstract

This article examines the question of whether people perceive their own urban environment more favourably than people from other urban environments, i.e., whether residents, in a sense, adapt to where they live. To analyse this question, a quantitative statistical model that uses geometric and land use elements was applied to a case study of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, to estimate the perception of physical pleasantness of the urban environment using two calibrations: a global one and one obtained from a survey carried out in Belo Horizonte. The article then contrasts findings specific to Belo Horizonte with global perceptions, highlighting that local residents tend to evaluate their city's geometry and land use more positively than a worldwide audience. This difference suggests that familiarity and acclimatisation to the urban environment can significantly influence residents’ perceptions of their physical living environment.