A physical effort-based model for pedestrian movement in topographic urban environments

This paper presents a topography-sensitive cognitive model for analysis and prediction of pedestrian movement in urban settings. Topography affects visibility and therefore the spatial awareness of pedestrians. It also accentuates the role of physical effort during travel and route selection. The existing models fall short in their reference to these issues. A thorough description of the proposed model is followed by a validation - the model was tested against two existing models in three case studies in Haifa and Jerusalem, Israel. The proposed model outperformed the others in the steeper parts of the case studies. Future model development is discussed

A Network Approach to Link Visibility and Urban Activity Location

Performance of a range of urban amenities is influenced by their accessibility to pedestrians. Success in attracting pedestrians to a particular location depends on how they project visuospatial information. In this paper, we propose an original method for analysing the visuospatial integration of particular locations within a street network. As a case study we analyse the distribution of one type of urban amenities - food and drink public facilities. We represent them in a form of visibility graph as objects of navigational decisions within the street network. To explore how urban facilities, streets and pedestrian visual cognition are interrelated, we create and compare three cases: a street network visibility graph and two visibility graphs of amenities. The first graph is based on the existing, “natural” distribution, while the second is an “artificial”, fabricated version of the environment, where urban locations are redistributed evenly across the case study. We study the graphs’ global network properties by the use of small-world, and scale-free models. Our results demonstrate that views available for an urban traveller in the existing, “natural” setting had a particular structure. It is built of numerous weakly connected locations coexisting with a small number of hubs with an exceptionally large number of visual connections. Such organisation of urban visibility shows that visuospatial network shares morphological similarities with other natural networks, suggesting that common organizational principles underlie network structure

3D models as a platform for urban analysis and studies on human perception of space

The objective of this work is to develop an integrated visual analysis and modelling for environmental and urban systems in respect to interior space layout and functionality. This work involves interdisciplinary research efforts that focus primarily on architecture design discipline, yet incorporates experts from other and different disciplines, such as Geoinformatics, computer sciences and environment-behavior studies. This work integrates an advanced Spatial Openness Index (SOI) model within realistic geovisualized Geographical Information System (GIS) environment and assessment using subjective residents’ evaluation. The advanced SOI model measures the volume of visible space at any required view point practically, for every room or function. This model enables accurate 3D simulation of the built environment regarding built structure and surrounding vegetation. This paper demonstrates the work on a case study. A 3D model of Neve-Shaanan neighbourhood in Haifa was developed. Students that live in this neighbourhood had participated in this research. Their apartments were modelled in details and inserted into a general model, representing topography and the volumes of buildings. The visual space for each room in every apartment was documented and measured and at the same time the students were asked to answer questions regarding their perception of space and view from their residence. The results of this research work had shown potential contribution to professional users, such as researchers, designers and city planners. This model can be easily used by professionals and by non-professionals such as city dwellers, contractors and developers. This work continues with additional case studies having different building typologies and functions variety, using virtual reality tools

CONSIDERING INTERNAL SPACE LAYOUT AS A MAJORE COMPONENT OF VISUAL ANALYSIS FOR URBAN SYSTEMS AND A KEY TO REINTERPRET URBAN STRUCTURES

Reviving neglected existing urban fabrics is one of the main frame-work for our future. A contemporary theory of conservation regarding architectural intervention and buildings subsequent re-use, has been developed to address a growing number of tired and neglected buildings. Rehabilitation is required for buildings that are no longer fit to purpose and struggling to adapt a new use. The Spatial Openness Index, is a visibility analysis model defined as the volume of the visible part of a surrounding sphere: the potential of a view and exposure that can indicate on the Perceived Density. Using visibility analyses models and tools, regarding internal space layout, in reinterpreting the functional use of existing buildings would contribute to future refurbishment and reviving urban fabrics. In this paper, a study of the relation between internal space layout and functionality and external visual analysis is suggested. The study is demonstrated on a neglected Haifa neighborhood

Considering internal space layout as a majore component of visual analysis for urban systems and a key to reinterpret urban structures

Reviving neglected existing urban fabrics is one of the main frame-work for our future. A contemporary theory of conservation regarding architectural intervention and buildings subsequent re-use, has been developed to address a growing number of tired and neglected buildings. Rehabilitation is required for buildings that are no longer fit to purpose and struggling to adapt a new use. The Spatial Openness Index, is a visibility analysis model defined as the volume of the visible part of a surrounding sphere: the potential of a view and exposure that can indicate on the Perceived Density. Using visibility analyses models and tools, regarding internal space layout, in reinterpreting the functional use of existing buildings would contribute to future refurbishment and reviving urban fabrics. In this paper, a study of the relation between internal space layout and functionality and external visual analysis is suggested. The study is demonstrated on a neglected Haifa neighborhood

Spatial openness as a practical metric for evaluating built-up environments

This paper reports on a primary metric tool developed in a collaboration between an architecture researcher and a computer science researcher. The development of this tool emerged from the concept that the spatial openness (SO) -- the volume of free space measured from all possible observation points -- is an important quality indicator of alternative spatial configurations within given constraints; this concept is based on the idea that the geometry and morphology of the built-up environment influence perception. Previous work showed that comparative SO measurements in alternative spatial configurations are correlated with the comparative perceived density, and in particular that a higher value of SO indicates a lower perceived density. We present a feasible 3D computational method for measuring SO and demonstrate its potential use in the design process. The SO metric is a step towards the development of quantitative comparative evaluation of building shapes and spatial configurations related to the 3D observation of open space.

Using Geotagged Photos to Study Visitors Mobility in Urban Parks during Shadow

The share of urban parks in a metropolitan is mostly small, nevertheless, they are one of the main attractions affecting the experience of mobility in urban cities. Since shaded areas influence active traveling, e.g., walking and cycling, the effect of shaded areas in cities is currently being investigated, specifically as temperatures continue to rise. In this study, we analyze mobility patterns of photographers by mining spatio-temporal descriptors associated with crowdsourced geotagged photos from Flickr integrated with the computation of the 3D line of sight to the sun position for shadow computation. Mining photographers' trajectories with unsupervised location clustering are used to recover knowledge about the main attractions visited in urban parks while considering shadow analysis. Such an approach can contribute to diverse city management aspects, including urban design and planning, tourism and more. Preliminary results for Central Park in Manhattan are presented, showing an original approach for the retrieval of relevant valuable information on visitors mobility patterns and hot spots identification while considering building shadows