An empirical study on sustainable walkability indices for transit-oriented development by using the analytic network process approach

Abstract

The moving spaces for pedestrians are facilities that have very important functions for urbanities’ comfortable traffic and resting areas. Although research on transit-oriented development (TOD) has recently emerged as an issue, most domestic studies have not addressed comprehensive analysis or concrete inducement techniques when it comes to the effects of TOD. Therefore, a decision support system is needed which assists in policy making systems by analysing quantitative effects concerning major planning factors of TOD, such as transit mode, level of service (LOS), density, diversity of land use and pedestrian-friendly urban design. In this respect, this study is intended to seek ways to consider developing Walkability Indicators that simplify pedestrian environment elements around areas adjacent to subway stations, depending on the types of walking space, with a quantitative index, and evaluating and visualizing the overall degree (in terms of pleasantness and aesthetics) of pedestrian friendliness of the environment, as well as pedestrians’ convenience and accessibility. Accordingly, we measured distribution of the traffic facilities and amenities as well as connectivity of the pedestrian networks quantitatively in order to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the pedestrian environments. To develop a pedestrian environment index, quantifiable parameters such as mobility, safety, convenience, pleasantness and environment-friendliness were organized. As a result, parameters were selected and they are viewed to have the potential to be used as indexes for the development of Geographic Information System (GIS). Twenty-one route segment parameters related to pleasantness and safety, and nine intersection-related parameters were classified into five areas. For setting the weight values of the evaluation criteria obtained from the survey, we employed an analytic network process (ANP). The computed scores using these criteria are classified and normalized according to the levels of pedestrian dependency and, finally, displayed on a map. The proposed system is expected to be applicable in the visualization of pedestrian movements and the evaluation of convenience levels of the pedestrian environments.