A multi-source and multi-perspective imagery method for assessing the physical appearance of gated communities

Traditional objective methods for assessing gated community (GC) environments rely primarily on on-site audits and street-view-based virtual audits. The former is costly and labour-intensive, while the latter faces limited spatial coverage and cannot capture temporally variable features. These constraints are especially problematic in enclosed residential forms like GCs, highlighting the need for a more scalable, data-driven assessment approach. This study proposes a multi-source and multi-perspective imagery framework that integrates aerial, external, and internal views to assess GC physical appearance. The framework is structured around a unified analysis model with tailored indicators, scoring rules, and integration criteria, enabling standardized measurement across perspectives. This work is methodology-based and is demonstrated through a gated-community case study in Xi’an District, Mudanjiang City, China. The case study shows the method’s high agreement with on-site audits while substantially reducing time and labour requirements. Results show that although GCs perform well in security and privacy, they frequently lack adequate public resources and infrastructure. These findings underscore the need for systematic spatial monitoring to identify priority areas for improvement. The ability to incorporate both open-access and actively collected imagery enhances the framework’s adaptability across diverse urban contexts. This approach provides a standardized, scalable tool for supporting data-driven decision-making in urban planning and residential management. Future extensions may include integrating socioeconomic indicators and applying the method in varied regulatory and geographic settings to further enhance its applicability.