Developing the Urban Square Integrated Quality Index (USIQI): Evaluating Sustainability, Social Cohesion, and Placemaking in Public Squares of Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Public squares play a critical role in shaping the social, cultural, and environmental performance of contemporary cities. However, many public squares in Cairo continue to suffer from limited shading, limited inclusivity, reduced diversity of activities, and environmental stress. To address these challenges, this study develops the Urban Square Integrated Quality Index (USIQI), an exploratory composite tool designed to evaluate public squares through three interrelated dimensions: sustainability, social cohesion, and placemaking. The USIQI is constructed using a structured set of indicators derived from an extended literature review, organized into measurable environmental and socio-spatial components. The index is applied to three contrasting public squares in Cairo—Tahrir (symbolic-civic), Ramses (transport-functional), and Nahda (academic-cultural). Indicators were normalized to a 0–100 scale and weighted through an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to enable consistent comparison. The results reveal that Tahrir Square performs strongest due to recent redevelopment efforts and enhanced identity, followed by Nahda Square with moderate social and functional performance, while Ramses Square exhibits the weakest outcomes because of its transport-dominated configuration. These findings demonstrate the value of the USIQI as an early-stage assessment tool that can identify performance gaps and inform design and policy decisions. The study contributes a structured, transferable framework that supports the holistic evaluation of public squares in Cairo and provides a foundation for future empirical validation and index refinement.