Space Syntax Measures Research Articles

Re-examining the role of street network configuration on bicycle commuting using crowdsourced data

Understanding the role of street network configuration on commuter cycling can aid city planners in assessing and evaluating interventions to promote regular cycling into people's routines. Studies examining this relationship generally build models on observed cycling counts. While this provides valuable information, it could still result in an incomplete picture because some routes with advantages (e.g., good accessibility, amenities etc) may not have been utilised as expected because of other confounding factors (e.g., safety issues, motorised traffic) or vice-versa, leading to incorrect conclusions especially in the absence of data on these confounding factors. Thus, in this study, we argue that observing higher cycling flows on a route should not be the sole criteria to examine the role of street network configuration on the cycling patterns, especially when certain confounding factors have not been controlled for. We utilise data from the activity tracking app Strava for the city of Glasgow and compare the observed cycling intensities with the modelled cycling intensities where all the cyclists take the shortest routes. We estimated three linear regression models for: Observed Strava Cycling Intensities, Modelled Strava Cycling Intensities, and the difference between these two measures. Street network configuration were incorporated using Space Syntax measures: Normalised Angular Choice and Normalised Angular Integration. The roles of these variables, along with route characteristics and natural environment factors, on commuter cyclists' trips are explored. Visual exploration and linear regression models indicate that cyclists deviated away from the well-integrated, straighter routes to aesthetically attractive routes with cycling infrastructure, and towards links within mixed land use and to the least deprived areas. These results are of interest to policy makers and assist in infrastructure planning.

Integrating space syntax and CPTED in assessing outdoor physical activity

AbstractThe relationship between the spatial configuration of the built environment and outdoor physical activity is supported in the literature. However, the role of crime prevention elements and safety is neglected in that relationship. Using structural equation modelling and considering the effect of demographic factors, this study combined concepts of space syntax for analysis of spatial configuration and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) at property and street scales to investigate the direct and indirect relationships between neighbourhoods’ environments and levels of outdoor physical activity. The theoretical purposes have been to measure CPTED elements in two scales and each as a second‐order construct and to gauge pedestrians’ feeling of safety as mediators in the relationship between space syntax measures and physical activity. The results of structural equation modelling suggest that streets’ CPTED elements mediate the relationship between space syntax measures and feelings of safety. The mediation role of feelings of safety in the relationship between CPTED at the street scale and physical activity is also supported. Thus, the study shows that space syntax measures cannot be considered in relation to physical activity without also thinking about its consequent effects on neighbourhoods’ physical environments andalso provides novel insights into the effects of demographic variables on outdoor physical activity.

Evaluation of Indoor Paths Based On Indoor Navigation Network Models and Space Syntax Measures

Evaluation of Indoor Paths Based On Indoor Navigation Network Models and Space Syntax Measures

Optimizing the routes of the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus in Taipei city: a new method based on the criteria from major tourism cities

ABSTRACT The objective of a hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus is to provide the highest accessibility to the most desirable attractions of the place. Four tourism cities worldwide, London, Vienna, Edinburgh, and Singapore, were studied to benchmark the system's spatial and non-spatial criteria. The head/tail breaks principle sets up the threshold to measure the popularity, and the space syntax measures to evaluate the accessibility. The primary goals for a sightseeing bus system should consider the benefits of the bus takers, the revenue and costs of system providers, and the marketing and competitiveness of local authorities. Hence the length and number of bus stops per route should be limited to no more than 1.5–2 hours per loop. The four accessibility measures for attractions were considered higher than the city's second-rank (M2) mean value. The results showed that in the optimizing process using the benchmarked criteria, the coverage ratio of Grade 1, 2, and 3 attractions was enhanced by 25%, 42%, and 20% higher, respectively, than the existing sightseeing bus system in Taipei City. This optimizing accessibility process should be transferable to other means by planners to increase the tourist visits, such as the bicycle system, shared scooters, and walking areas.

Exploring the role of accessibility in shaping retail location using space syntax measures: A panel-data analysis in Lisbon, 1995–2010

Although location theory is now almost two centuries old, the firms' location choice processes areyet to be fully understood. And while accessibility, in some form, has long been used as an explanatory factor, spatial configuration measures (space syntax) have hardly been used in location models, and longitudinal analyses have also been infrequent. Therefore, a panel multinomial logit model is implemented in Lisbon to explore the role of this specific type of accessibility measures in shaping firm location, throughout a 15-year period, using data from 1995, 2002 and 2010. The analysis is focused on retail activity (five retail categories), restaurants and cafes. The results show that firm location can persistently be related to Local integration and Choice, although the magnitude of the relationship changes depending on the commercial category. These results reinforce the general idea that good urban design can potentially counteract information costs and help commerce locate in new areas of the city while allowing it to continue to succeed in the city’s older, more central areas.

Flood disaster evacuation route choice in Indonesian urban riverbank kampong: Exploring the role of individual characteristics, path risk elements, and path network configuration

Emergency evacuation is regarded as the most important disaster response action for protecting human life from potentially lethal threats. Despite growing research aimed at evaluating and modelling evacuation for strategic flood disaster preparedness, remarkably little is known about how informal settlement dwellers realized and negotiated surrounding environment for evacuation path route choice. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the dynamic interaction between human characteristics, path risk elements, and path network configuration in constructing flood evacuation route choices based on two cases study of urban riverbank kampongs in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. To understand these interactions, we applied a mixed method based on a qualitative research approach, which included (1) walking evacuation simulation with video analysis to understand the informality practices and kampong's space setting, (2) an analysis of dweller's narrative experience collected from walking interviews, (3) computational path network configuration analysis using space syntax. Our findings suggest that kampong dwellers selected evacuation routes differently based on their individual capacity, the safety performance of path design, and path network characteristics in accommodating the safest travel. When juxtaposing space syntax results with walking evacuation simulation, the individual evacuation route choice is highly related to space syntax measures (normalized angular choice at local radii), implying that the majority of residents still prefer to walk on the straightest route (the route with the least angular deviation) to reach the assembly/exit points. Furthermore, this research demonstrates that not all residents have the same capabilities to walk on the straightest evacuation route due to physical capacity and limitation that relates to gender and ages differences in negotiating path risk elements. The use of mixed method approaches provided a practical insight into emphasizing the human-centered perspective in planning an effective flood emergency evacuation for informal riverbank settlements through spatial design, planning, that respect vulnerable groups.

Space Syntax in Analysing Bicycle Commuting Routes in Inner Metropolitan Adelaide

Cycling is a particularly favoured for short urban trips because it is a healthy and environmentally benign activity. As a result, urban mobility, quality of life, and public health are enhanced, while traffic congestion and pollution are decreased. In looking beyond the street network in terms of how it affects cyclists’ behavior choices, Bill Hillier’s (1984) outstanding legacy research on spatial space syntax is investigated in this study. The goal of this study is to determine if an urban area’s street network morphology influences commuters’ inclination to ride their bicycles to work. To further understand the nonlinear consequences of street network geometry on the estimation of cycling to work, a logarithmic-transformed regression model that includes base socioeconomic components, urban form, and street network variables represented by space syntax measure factors is developed. In conclusion, this model determined that bike commuting choice is significantly associated with the centrality index of Connectivity, although this is in combination with socioeconomic factors (age, gender, affluence, housing type, and housing price) and built environment factors (share of commercial, educational activities and distance to the CBD) factors. The findings of this study would be of value to planners and policy makers in support of evidence-based policy formulation to improve the design of bicycle networks in suburban regions.

Syntactic Outdoor and Indoor Study of the Great Mosque of Algiers: Space Syntax Measures

Syntactic Outdoor and Indoor Study of the Great Mosque of Algiers: Space Syntax Measures

Urban Form and Socioeconomic Sustainability: Data-Driven Assessment of the Impact of the Regent’s Canal on Its Surrounding Neighbourhoods

The spatial structure of cities results from a space-making process that develops over long processes of time. During this process, inner-urban waters as urban components have become a significant urban agenda in shaping the spatial configuration of cities and have diverse forms of interactions with the urban systems. Although there is a significant number of studies that examine the water-city relationship from social, economic, and ecological perspectives, the spatial configuration has not been identified as a determinant factor in the sustainability of waterfront settlements. In that sense, the study investigates the impact of Regent’s Canal, London, with socioeconomic properties embedded in the urban form. The case study area is located along a section of the Regent’s Canal between King’s Cross and Camden Town. It aims to analyse the possible spatial effect of the canal on the socioeconomic culture of its surrounding neighbourhoods. Hence, the research mainly takes Bill Hillier’s study on “Sustainability of Urban Form” and Lars Marcus concept of “Spatial Capital”, which present the main variables of spatial structure to measure the performativity of urban form. A series of spatial analyses with demographic and land use data is done to investigate socioeconomic development in the neighbourhoods by applying space syntax methodology and tools. GIS is used to create Integrated Urban Model layering space syntax measures of spatial integration, population and retail density, and land use diversity on each street segment to identify differences between neighbourhoods on either side of the canal. The method enables us to understand geographic patterns of potential movement, land use distribution, and social interaction. The main finding of the research is that the spatial effect of the canal is different on each of these sides. This effect depends on the location of the waterbody and the way it is combined with the street network.

Examining the Relationship Between Environmental Factors and Inpatient Hospital Falls: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

BackgroundPatient falls are the most common adverse events reported in hospitals. Although it is well understood that the physical hospital environment contributes to nearly 40% of severe or fatal hospital falls, there are significant gaps in the knowledge about the relationship between inpatient unit design and fall rates. The few studies that have examined unit design have been conducted in a single hospital (non-Veterans Health Administration [VHA]) or a small number of inpatient units, limiting generalizability. The goal of this study is to identify unit design factors contributing to inpatient falls in the VHA.ObjectiveThe first aim of the study is to investigate frontline and management perceptions of and experiences with veteran falls as they pertain to inpatient environmental factors. An iterative rapid assessment process will be used to analyze the data. Interview findings will directly inform the development of an environmental assessment survey to be conducted as part of aim 2 and to contribute to interpretation of aim 2. The second aim of this study is to quantify unit design factors and compare spatial and environmental factors of units with higher- versus lower-than-expected fall rates.MethodsWe will first conduct walk-through interviews with facility personnel in 10 medical/surgical units at 3 VHA medical centers to identify environmental fall risk factors. Data will be used to finalize an environmental assessment survey for nurse managers and facilities managers. We will then use fall data from the VA Inpatient Evaluation Center and patient data from additional sources to identify 50 medical/surgical nursing units with higher- and lower-than-expected fall rates. We will measure spatial factors by analyzing computer-aided design files of unit floorplans and environmental factors from the environmental assessment survey. Statistical tests will be performed to identify design factors that distinguish high and low outliers.ResultsThe VA Health Services Research and Development Service approved funding for the study. The research protocol was approved by institutional review boards and VA research committees at both sites. Data collection started in February 2018. Results of the data analysis are expected by February 2022. Data collection and analysis was completed for aim 1 with a manuscript of results in progress. For aim 2, the medical/surgical units were categorized into higher- and lower-than-expected fall categories, the environmental assessment surveys were distributed to facility managers and nurse managers. Data to measure spatial characteristics are being compiled.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this study is the first to objectively identify spatial risks for falls in hospitals within in a large multihospital system. Findings can contribute to evidence-based design guidelines for hospitals such as those of the Facility Guidelines Institute and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The metrics for characterizing spatial features are quantitative indices that could be incorporated in larger scale contextual studies examining contributors to falls, which to date often exclude physical environmental factors at the unit level. Space syntax measures could be used as physical environmental factors in future research examining a range of contextual factors—social, personal, organizational, and environmental—that contribute to patient falls.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/24974

Children's Experiences of Their Journey to School: Integrating Behaviour Change Frameworks to Inform the Role of the Built Environment in Active School Travel Promotion.

Childhood obesity is a public health problem with multiple effects on children’s life. Promoting Active School Travel (AST) could provide an inclusive opportunity for physical activity and shape healthy behaviours. Data for this cross-sectional study were drawn from questionnaires carried out in five primary schools located in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, in neighbourhoods chosen for their variability in IMD (index of multiple deprivation) and spatial structure of street networks (measured through space syntax measure of integration). A randomly selected and heterogenic sample of 145 pupils (aged 9–10) completed an open-ended questionnaire to state what they like and dislike about their journey to school. Thematic analysis identified four typologies (environmental context, emotions, social influences and trip factors) based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and specific themes and sub-themes underlying children’s affective experiences of their journeys to school. This study is the first known to authors to attempt to adapt the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation Behaviour (COM-B) model into AST and children’s experiences and associated behavioural domains with design aspects. Such an insight into children’s attitudes could inform urban planners and designers about how to apply more effective behaviour change interventions, targeting an AST increase among children.

Examining the diffusion of coronavirus disease 2019 cases in a metropolis: a space syntax approach

BackgroundThe urban built environment (BE) has been globally acknowledged as one of the main factors that affects the spread of infectious disease. However, the effect of the street network on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence has been insufficiently studied. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which causes COVID-19, is far more transmissible than previous respiratory viruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, which highlights the role of the spatial configuration of street network in COVID-19 spread, as it is where humans have contact with each other, especially in high-density areas. To fill this research gap, this study utilized space syntax theory and investigated the effect of the urban BE on the spatial diffusion of COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong.MethodThis study collected a comprehensive dataset including a total of 3815 confirmed cases and corresponding locations from January 18 to October 5, 2020. Based on the space syntax theory, six space syntax measures were selected as quantitative indicators for the urban BE. A linear regression model and Geographically Weighted Regression model were then applied to explore the underlying relationships between COVID-19 cases and the urban BE. In addition, we have further improved the performance of GWR model considering the spatial heterogeneity and scale effects by adopting an adaptive bandwidth.ResultOur results indicated a strong correlation between the geographical distribution of COVID-19 cases and the urban BE. Areas with higher integration (a measure of the cognitive complexity required for a pedestrians to reach a street) and betweenness centrality values (a measure of spatial network accessibility) tend to have more confirmed cases. Further, the Geographically Weighted Regression model with adaptive bandwidth achieved the best performance in predicting the spread of COVID-19 cases.ConclusionIn this study, we revealed a strong positive relationship between the spatial configuration of street network and the spread of COVID-19 cases. The topology, network accessibility, and centrality of an urban area were proven to be effective for use in predicting the spread of COVID-19. The findings of this study also shed light on the underlying mechanism of the spread of COVID-19, which shows significant spatial variation and scale effects. This study contributed to current literature investigating the spread of COVID-19 cases in a local scale from the space syntax perspective, which may be beneficial for epidemic and pandemic prevention.

Accessibility and Connectivity Criteria for Assessing Walkability: An Application in Qazvin, Iran

Distance is a recognized key determinant of walking. Pedestrians tend to choose the shortest route between two points. Shortest routes can be spatially described in terms of distances between two points or topologically described as the number of turns/directional changes between these points. This paper presents a methodology to evaluate the conditions provided by a street network to pedestrians, by using two space syntax measures. Accessibility was calculated through Angular Segment Analysis by Metric Distance (ASAMeD), a measure of street integration and choice strongly correlated with pedestrian movement pattern. Street Connectivity was calculated by using the space syntax measure of connectivity, which shows the direct connection of street nodes to each individual nodes. The streets criterion values of both approaches were normalized by using fuzzy logic linear functions. The method was applied in the city center of Qazvin, Iran. Results showed that the urban structure of Qazvin has a strong impact on the performance of the network. The old neighborhood centers widespread in the city center presented a high topological accessibility, while the most connected street are those streets crossing and surrounding the neighborhood areas. The method can be used to evaluate and improve pedestrian networks, as it can distinguish the most and least attractive streets according to the criteria used. These findings can be used to guide policies towards improving walkability and to create more walkable and sustainable cities.

Children's Active School Travel: Examining the Combined Perceived and Objective Built-Environment Factors from Space Syntax.

Increasing active school travel (AST) among children may provide the required level of daily physical activity and reduce the prevalence of obesity. Despite efforts to promote this mode, recent evidence shows that AST rates continue to decrease in suburban and urban areas alike. The aim of this research study, therefore, is to facilitate our understanding of how objective and perceived factors near the home influence children’s AST in an understudied city, İstanbul, Turkey. Using data from a cross-sectional sample of students aged 12–14 from 20 elementary schools (n = 1802) and consenting parents (n = 843), we applied a nominal logistic regression model to highlight important predictors of AST. The findings showed that street network connectivity (as measured by two novel space syntax measures, metric reach and directional reach) was the main deciding factor for active commuting to school, while parents’ perceptions of condition of sidewalks and shade-casting street trees were moderately significant factors associated with AST. Overall, this study demonstrated the significance of spatial structure of street network around the homes in the potential for encouraging AST, and more importantly, the need to consider objective and perceived environmental attributes when strategizing means to increase this mode choice and reduce ill-health among children.

Measuring the relationship between spatial configuration, diversity and user behavior: A Post Occupancy Evaluation study in Istanbul’s peripheral districts

Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) is a robust tool to systematically evaluate the effects of design decisions on spatial performance and to identify the relationship between the space and its users. Although there is a growing body of POE research on complex buildings, such as hospitals and education spaces, studies on the POE evaluation of public open spaces are limited. More importantly, few studies have investigated public squares designed at the periphery and how they are used.
 This study aims to identify the extent to which spatial configuration of public squares is related to users’ behavior (i.e., modes/distances of access, level of satisfaction). For this purpose, we focused on four peripheral urban squares located in Istanbul, Turkey. The methodology applied in the study includes a synthesis of three types of expertise: 1) behavioral mapping of urban squares (through the analysis of patterns of use based on direct observation), 2) cognitive evaluation of spaces based on perceived factors (through user questionnaires), and 3) quantifying urban public spaces objectively (through the methodology of space syntax and urban morphology).
 The results identify associations between objective characteristics of public spaces designed at the peripheral districts, patterns of use and users’ perception of these areas, to a certain extent. For example, the variety and intensity of activities within the square as well as the length of occupancy are highest for Avcılar square, which is most integrated within its urban surroundings with reduced average block size. An important finding is the association between the average street connectivity levels of these squares with their pedestrian catchment areas. In other words, the more integrated a public urban space is with its surroundings (800mt buffers), its users will access this space on foot from a larger distance. Based on these findings, spatial configuration as measured by space syntax measures appears to be an explanatory measure assessing the potentiality of public open spaces for bringing users together, hence, creating a lively, well-used space. However, the results also point to some disagreements between the perceived (users’ evaluations) and objective (syntactic analysis) measurements, which indicate that both types of measurements are needed in POE research of public spaces.

Evaluation of the Space Syntax Measures Affecting Pedestrian Density through Ordinal Logistic Regression Analysis

This paper examines the relationship between pedestrian density and space syntax measures in a university campus using ordinal logistic regression analysis. The pedestrian density assumed as the dependent variable of regression analysis was categorised in low, medium, and high classes by using Jenks natural break classification. The data elements of groups were derived from pedestrian counts performed in 22 gates 132 times. The counting period grouped in nominal categories was assumed as an independent variable. Another independent was one of the 15 derived measures of axial analysis and visual graphic analysis. The statistically significant model results indicated that the integration of axial analysis was the most reasonable measure that explained the pedestrian density. Then, the changes in integration values of current and master plan datasets were analysed using paired sample t-test. The calculated p-value of t-test proved that the master plan would change the campus morphology for pedestrians.

Using space syntax measures to assess the human impact on ground cover plant communities in recreational forests

This study used space syntax theory to predict the recreational impact on natural forest ecosystems. We assumed a correlation between specific space syntax measures and parameters that describe the recreational impact on forest ecosystems. For constructing a model of spatial structure of recreational forest, we chose an angular segment map of a road network. Most of the recreational impact is caused by trampling which we used to evaluate the visitors traffic. Field observations of ground cover were made on transects. For the road network we used the natural logarithm of the T1024 Choice measure, called LNchoice, and divided the range of values into two subsets. The subset ‘zone 0’ included segments where LNchoice was lower than the mean value of LNchoice, while the subset ‘zone 1’ included all other segments. Comparative analysis of the field data and indicators of the road network confirmed that zone 1 had higher trampling impacts than zone 0. In zone 1, degree of coverage by typical forest plants and their degree of dominance were lower than in zone 0, and the percentage of dead ground cover was greater. These results show that space syntax theory has great potential for landscape design and management of recreational forests.

Spatial Logic of Shopping Malls: Application of Space Syntax in understanding Economics of Architecture

Research findings of architecture and environmental psychology espouse the supremacy of built environment in influencing human behavior in general and movement behavior within buildings and urban areas in particular. Retail management studies on the other hand highlight the importance of influencing human movement as a determining factor for tenant-mix design. Identifying a proper mix of tenant stores in a shopping mall is responsible for its economic performance and is considered a strategic mall management decision. In practice, this decision is taken by management professionals, based mostly on gut feeling or rule of thumb. So, there is a scope for integration of knowledge of these two different disciplines for significantly enhancing tenanting decision making in shopping malls, which will ultimately lead to its economic success. A proper methodology is required in this juncture to relate spatial configuration with movement. Verbal description of space, prevalent in the architectural practice, makes it difficult for correlating with measurable variables like footfall. Space syntax analysis is a potential evidence based approach for quantitative description of configuration in explaining movement through space. The purpose of this paper is twofold: identifying the supremacy of space syntax measures over normal metric measures and establishing a spatial rationale behind tenanting decision making (optimal area and rent of tenant stores) through developing the standard bid-rent model with tenant store specific variables and solving under the conditions of maximizing profit and situation of perfect competition. Consequently, retail space planning will not only be an accommodator of functional requirements but will be a potential tool for economic success through generating, controlling and predicting movement.

Evidence for urban design and public health policy and practice: Space syntax metrics and neighborhood walking.

Most walkability indices do not capture the topological structure of urban forms. Space syntax models these topological relationships. We estimated associations between the space syntax measure of street integration and walkability (SSW) and neighborhood-specific leisure (LW) and transportation (TW) walking among 4422 Canadian adults. Street integration and SSW were found to be positively associated with TW and LW participation in a usual week. A one-unit increase in SSW was associated with a 6-min increase in usual weekly minutes of TW. Street integration and SSW were also positively associated with TW participation in the last week. Higher street integration and walkability conceptualized using space syntax support neighborhood walking.

Comparative Associations of Street Network Design, Streetscape Attributes and Land-Use Characteristics on Pedestrian Flows in Peripheral Neighbourhoods.

Research has sufficiently documented the built environment correlates of walking. However, evidence is limited in investigating the comparative associations of micro- (streetscape features) and macro-level (street network design and land-use) environmental measures with pedestrian movement. This study explores the relative association of street-level design-local qualities of street environment-, street network configuration –spatial structure of the urban grid- and land-use patterns with the distribution of pedestrian flows in peripheral neighbourhoods. Street design attributes and ground-floor land-uses are obtained through field surveys while street network configuration is evaluated through space syntax measures. The statistical models indicate that the overall spatial configuration of street network proves to be a stronger correlate of walking than local street-level attributes while only average sidewalk width appears to be a significant correlate of walking among the streetscape measures. However, the most significant and consistent correlate of the distribution of flows is the number of recreational uses at the segment-level. This study contributes to the literature by offering insights into the comparative roles of urban design qualities of the street environment and street network layout on pedestrian movement. The findings also offer evidence-based strategies to inform specific urban design and urban master planning decisions (i.e., the provision of more generous sidewalks on streets with relatively higher directional accessibility) in creating lively, walkable environments.