## 2 Methods
### Method for Assessing the Physical Context  
A method is proposed for describing each area, in which a set of objective variables related to the quality of services and the diversity of the place is estimated. The procedure used to measure the physical environment is an initial proposal based on simplified estimates, with one single value for each physical characteristic in each of the analysis units. The presence of vegetation (GREEN) and/or water (BLUE) elements, and the level of artificiality (GREY) are quantified by estimating the mean percentage of each of these elements on a (2D) map. In some cases, the total percentage of green, blue and grey elements is greater than 100% because trees or water may project over artificial surfaces. The estimates of the different characteristics of the location were performed by the person responsible for the psychosocial studies ([PERSON]), based on her knowledge of the different sites analysed during the campaigns in the field. More specifically, the value of %SKY is estimated by the technician as an approximation of the mean percentage of the sky that could be observed by a person using the analysis unit from any point. Similar methods have been used in other research based on panoramic photographs of places [13], though the visibility of the sky is too uncertain and dependent upon other factors, such as orientation, gaze direction, field of view, etc. [10; 11]. The intention in performing this estimate was to get an indicator of the openness of analysed places, for which purpose it seemed to be of interest to use a measurement of the mean percentage of the sky that could be viewed by a user in the analysed location, even if this was just an approximate estimate. Other characteristics such as the level of maintenance, safety, the presence of businesses (shops), traffic and facilities were also assessed. Each of these characteristics was evaluated by a working group that assigned them one out of four possible values: 1 for low presence; 2 for medium; 3 for high; and 0 meaning not applicable. For instance, the existence of one or two shops or other services such as banks in each analysis unit is considered a low presence, if there are three to five it is considered medium, while if it is over five it is classified as high. Maintenance is regarded as high when the soil in the area is clean, there is no graffiti on the walls, and the urban furniture is not in bad condition; it is medium when one of these criteria is not met; and low when two or more are not. In addition, the presence of urban elements, i.e., landmarks and cultural heritage, was assessed using three scores: 0, not present; 1, visible from the study area; and 2, part of the study area. Table 1 shows a description of the physical characteristics and landscape features in the ten places analysed. This method, conceived to characterise the places, is based on a tool developed in the QUADMAP project [27]. Social interaction was also assessed by a working group who assigned the following range of values: 1 for low interaction in a specific place, i.e., 2 or 3 people talking or interacting; 2 for a medium level, i.e., 2 or 3 groups of people interacting; and 3, for high interaction, i.e., more than 3 groups. A score of 0 means that no interaction between people is observed. The ten places are strongly homogeneous in terms of maintenance and safety, which are generally high, as well as for the presence of landmarks and heritage. There is very little water present in the various places analysed. In contrast, they differ widely in terms of existence of facilities, traffic, economic activity, and green areas. These differences are also reflected in the characterisation of the settings in terms of greenness (%GREEN), and artificiality (%GREY), as well as the openness of the place (%SKY).