Urban Connectivity: Elements for an Identification of Bir El Bey’s Preferential Landscapes

Asma Rejeb Bouzgarrou,Yasmine Attia Ben Cherifa,Christophe Claramunt,Hichem Rejeb

doi:10.3390/urbansci5030055

Asma Rejeb Bouzgarrou, Yasmine Attia Ben Cherifa + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci5030055

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Abstract

An urban landscape can be considered as a background environment that influences humans’ movements at various scales in the city. This research is oriented to the study of the interactions between urban forest patches and their degree of influence and attractions on humans’ behaviors and interactions. The objective is to evaluate the relations between individuals’ movements and the city space nearby natural landscapes, and also to question spatial practices in the city. Forest patches are modelled according to a structural approach at the city level, while Space syntax principles have been applied and compared to in situ movements as experimentally observed. A statistical analysis complements the configurational analysis by highlighting correlations between structural properties and human movements. The whole approach is applied to the Bir El Bey Forest of the Tunisian city of Hammam Chatt in order to explore the interaction between the built and natural landscapes at different levels of scale. The findings exhibit the respective effects of the urban network and natural landscape on the urban space, and how such spaces are appropriated by Hammam Chatt inhabitants and users. Finally, the results propose a generic framework analysis for the study of the relations between humans and urban structure and landscape preferences and that offers novel perspectives for urban planning.

Highlights

On the one hand, human activities have long caused profound changes in the integrity and diversity of urban landscapes
The results presented in the following figur shown in a chromatic scale where the axial lines of red–yellow colors represent high values
In order to identify “preferential landscapes” and their effects on pedestrian movement, the aggregation of individual data at the street section level gives access to a whole set of accessibility models and in particular to the modelling of the frequencies of vehicular and pedestrian use used in the space syntax via the integration and choice measures

Summary

Introduction

Human activities have long caused profound changes in the integrity and diversity of urban landscapes. This research first considers the diversity of environments that compose an urban landscape and the multiplicity of interactions with human beings. From these relationships, the objective is secondly to develop a methodological framework based on a dual structural analysis and field observation, taking into consideration the diversity of perceptions and actions that connect humans to their surrounding urban landscape. The objective is secondly to develop a methodological framework based on a dual structural analysis and field observation, taking into consideration the diversity of perceptions and actions that connect humans to their surrounding urban landscape This is motivated by the fact that natural landscapes in the city might have a significant impact on humans’ ‘natural’ movements. The aim is to derive a better comprehension of the current interrelations between the fabric of the city, natural landscapes and human movements

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