Women’s Safety in Heritage Area: A Geospatial and Perception-Based Study of Urban Heritage and Security

Abstract

This research investigates the multi-dimensional concerns surrounding women's safety in Heritage Areas of Delhi, through a detailed mixed-method study incorporating geospatial analysis, stakeholder surveys, and urban policy review. As one of the densest and historically significant urban quarters in India, Heritage Areas of Delhi s urban morphology presents both opportunities and challenges to gendered safety. Utilizing data from 400 structured surveys across residents, shopkeepers, and tourists, the study analyses how built environment factors, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled urban monitoring tools, and heritage governance mechanisms interact to affect women’s perception of safety. The results highlight uneven spatial safety, limited access to amenities, and a marginalization of women’s voices in heritage-driven urban renewal, advocating for a participatory, culturally responsive approach to digital planning.