INNOVATIVE TOOLS FOR ASSESSING CHILDREN’S URBAN LIVEABILITY IN ALGERIA: A STRUCTURED LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

This studyreviews innovative tools used to assess children’s urban liveability (CUL), focusing on methods such as behavioural mapping, environmental sensing, and participatory approaches. While international literature demonstrates the growing application of scientific and user-centered tools to evaluate how urban environments affect children’s well-being, such methodologies remain scarcely explored in Algerian research and planning practices. Through a structured literature review approach that integrates elements of a systematic review, this study examines how tools like GIS-based analysis, mobile data collection, and child-led design processes have been implemented globally to understand children’s experiences in public spaces. Particular attention is paid to their potential adaptability in contexts like Algeria, where climatic challenges, spatial inequalities, and the lack of child participation in urban design persist. The findings highlight a significant gap in local academic and professional practice: despite increasing awareness of children’s needs in cities, Algerian research rarely employs integrated, technology-supported, or participatory assessment methods. To address this gap, the paper outlines key recommendations for future interdisciplinary research, advocating for the adoption of innovative tools that bridge environmental analysis with children’s lived experiences. By drawing on international case studies, this review offers a roadmap for improving urban liveability (UL) for children in Algeria through more inclusive and evidence-based design strategies.