Saif Haq | Texas Tech University (original) (raw)
Papers by Saif Haq
Herd: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, Dec 7, 2018
The most difficult issue in writing a methods paper on Space Syntax is that it is not simply a me... more The most difficult issue in writing a methods paper on Space Syntax is that it is not simply a method. It is a theory on which a methodology has been built. In the 40 years since introduction, both its theory and its methods have advanced, including the creation and development of computerized software. Essentially Space Syntax investigates layouts, seen in plan drawings; but this is done from mature theoretical arguments about function in those spaces. While theories of society were at the genesis of Space Syntax, it has branched into cognition, transportation, economics, and so on, and has been used to investigate buildings, cities, and regions. In the last decade or so, Space Syntax has been used in different ways to investigate healthcare facilities. This article concentrates on explaining the analytical techniques of Space Syntax. The theoretical underpinnings are minimally described-just enough for the reader to understand the basis of the methods. All examples provided are based on the same hypothetical hospital floor layout for ease of comprehension and comparison. Also, all Space Syntax concepts are italicized for identification. Since the theoretical aspects are not treated in detail, the reader is advised to pay particular attention to the citations for advanced comprehension. This cannot be overemphasized.
Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, Dec 1, 2003
Space syntax research has had significant success over the years and has served to illustrate the... more Space syntax research has had significant success over the years and has served to illustrate the importance of configurational measures, especially those that take into account all the spaces in a system. Here, assumptions of axial lines as elementary spatial units have been overwhelming. Although based on a theoretical construct of visibility, this postulation has rarely been extended to perception or cognition and this has given rise to questions about geometric and metric considerations. The research presented here was carried out in three large urban hospitals. In them, 128 volunteers performed`open searches', where they attempted to become familiar with the hospital; directed searches', where they sought specific locations; and various cognitive mapping tasks such as pointing to locations that were not within sight and sketching the main corridors and routes of the hospital. The hospitals themselves were analyzed through conventional syntax measures of axial lines and a segmented version of those lines. Correlational and regression analyses revealed that, although use of space was best predicted by local measures (connectivity), distribution of people was better explained through integration-3. Performance comparisons between the environmental measures given by`whole' and`segmented' lines suggested that, at least in complex architectural settings, original syntax definitions of axial lines as uninterrupted visibility lines have more predictive power and better cognitive presence than`segmented' lines. The results also support previous findings of intelligibility as a factor in predicting space use by extending it to the cognitive realm. Additionally, it has brought out the reverse role of intelligibility-3. It was also found that mean depth of an entry effects the way a building is explored; therefore, knowledge of this spatial property may provide a fair indication of the relative importance which each space will have on wayfinding.
Journal of Urban Design, Oct 4, 2017
Abstract This paper describes an in-depth study of a grid-like American city using traditional an... more Abstract This paper describes an in-depth study of a grid-like American city using traditional and recent space syntax analytical methods. The case study is Lubbock, located in west Texas, and is characterized by its ‘almost’ ideal grid layout ‒ one that is perhaps prototypical of American conditions west of the Mississippi River. After extensively describing the city, it is examined by using topological, angular and metric radii of space syntax analysis. From these, comments are made on factors influencing its layout and functional distribution, their relationships to syntactic understandings and some recent development trends. Through this process, the paper addresses the debate regarding the appropriateness of space syntax in investigating grid conditions, and responds to an emerging syntax theorem: local structure is metric and global structure is topo-geometric. In addition, the historical development of grid-like cities in the US is described, an implicit comparison of three syntax methods is provided, and a renewed case of syntax applicability to grid-like cities is made.
Herd: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, Jul 1, 2012
Space Syntax is a theory and method that has been developing for the last 40 years. Originally co... more Space Syntax is a theory and method that has been developing for the last 40 years. Originally conceived as a theory of "society and space," it has expanded to other areas. An important aspect of this is technical; it allows the quantification of layouts, and unit spaces within a layout, so that the environment itself can produce independent variables in quantitative research. Increasingly, it is being used to study healthcare facilities. Space Syntax has thereby become relevant to healthcare facilities researchers and designers. This paper attempts to explain Space Syntax to a new audience of healthcare designers, administrators, and researchers; it provides a literature review on the use of Space Syntax in healthcare facility research and suggests some possibilities for future application.
Herd: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, Jul 1, 2010
Human understanding of environments often develops through asynchronous experiences. Individuals ... more Human understanding of environments often develops through asynchronous experiences. Individuals are either peripatetic, learning about the ‘relations’ between environmental units as they move about, or, if stationary, experience the eects of diurnal and seasonal changes. Either way, what they ‘see’ is always changing. The environmental learning of mobile humans is often called a ‘cognitive map’, and in turn is related to moving behavior and navigational decision making. Modelling the eects of continuous changes of location with sucient rigor for quantitative analyses has been challenging. The theory and methodology of Space Syntax oers precise ways of measuring complex environmental properties that arise from connections of each space to all other spaces contained in the same layout – sometimes directly, sometimes through other intermediate spaces. These analyses indicate a visual ‘structure’ perhaps comparable to that of a moving human’s experience. As such, they can be understood as synchronous models of asynchronous experiences. Increased computational powers now allow ner tuned layout investigations by considering topological, metric, and geometric relationships, dening dierent kinds of unit spaces, and choosing the radii of analyses. However, since moving humans may or may not travel to or see all spaces in a layout, Syntax analyses might be considered ‘idealized’ because all spaces in a plan drawing and connections to all other spaces are the base of analysis. This presentation will couple foundational concepts of Space Syntax with advanced analytical techniques. After a brief review of research that used these variables to investigate human and medical outcomes, it will conclude with a discussion of its drawbacks and opportunities. With respect to the agenda of this conference, the case studies and discussions will focus on healthcare and public health outcomes.
Herd: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, Apr 1, 2020
There seems to be a growing consensus in the literature that topological variables, both in the e... more There seems to be a growing consensus in the literature that topological variables, both in the environment and in sketch maps, are reliable indicators of wayfinding performance. Additionally, there are other suggestions regarding the use of topological variables to characterize and measure overall environments. In this regard, it has been reported that topologically derived configurational measures may provide a better sense of the ease or difficulty that each environment may present to an immersed and moving subject within it. A clarification of such claims is an important focus of this paper. Regarding the externalization of cognitive understanding, the technique of sketch mapping has a long tradition. However, there are many ways by which these maps have been analysed. The inclusion of Space Syntax methods provides a new dimension. A comparison of Space Syntax with some other tools of sketch map analysis is a secondary focus here. These and other similar issues are explored through an experiment conducted in two complex hospital buildings in the US, where ninety-six volunteers, completely unfamiliar with the two environments, participated. They explored the setting, completed wayfinding tasks, pointed to unseen destinations, estimated distances between them and drew sketch maps from memory. The environment was analyzed through existing Space Syntax methods and some additional theoretically derived techniques. Two datasets were eventually produced: one by person and the other by corridor. The first one included sketch map variables, wayfinding performance indicators and cognitive tasks. The dataset by corridor included two kinds of data: independent values of the corridors themselves that was derived from Space Syntax analysis and wayfinding use of those corridors. An important conclusion from the analysis is that intelligibility of settings is an important measure that is predictive of wayfinding and environmental cognition within environments. However, geometric and metric relations cannot be ignored and there may be certain instances when those factors may become overwhelming.
Automation in Construction, Aug 1, 2001
This paper discusses the use of a computer tool designed to aid an architecture studio by: 1) sup... more This paper discusses the use of a computer tool designed to aid an architecture studio by: 1) supporting input by distant critics; 2) providing access to online cases and reference materials; 3) encouraging students to be clear and articulate about their projects; 4) supporting collaboration among students. The project, called CoOL Studio, employed a CoWeb, which allowed easy creation and modification of Web pages without any security measures. Students posted their designs at several points during the term and six distant expert consultants provided critiques. This project demonstrates that a relatively simple representation tool-one that allowed students and critics to interact on editable web pages-can usefully open up the design space of the architecture studio but that care needs to be given in understanding how computer tools relate to the tasks and rituals of interaction that go on in everyday architecture studio pedagogy.
Enquiry, Dec 13, 2017
Permissions and copyright Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publicati... more Permissions and copyright Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal (Attribution-ShareAlike). Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) You are free to: Share-copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format. Adapt-remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. Under the following terms: Attribution-You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. No additional restrictions-You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Strategies for Research in Healthcare Settings: Challenges and Opportunities, 2022
Human understanding of environments often develops through asynchronous experiences. Individuals... more Human understanding of environments often develops through asynchronous experiences.
Individuals are either peripatetic, learning about the ‘relations’ between environmental units as they move
about, or, if stationary, experience the eects of diurnal and seasonal changes. Either way, what they ‘see’
is always changing. The environmental learning of mobile humans is often called a ‘cognitive map’, and in
turn is related to moving behavior and navigational decision making.
Modelling the eects of continuous changes of location with sucient rigor for quantitative analyses
has been challenging. The theory and methodology of Space Syntax oers precise ways of measuring
complex environmental properties that arise from connections of each space to all other spaces
contained in the same layout – sometimes directly, sometimes through other intermediate spaces.
These analyses indicate a visual ‘structure’ perhaps comparable to that of a moving human’s experience.
As such, they can be understood as synchronous models of asynchronous experiences. Increased
computational powers now allow ner tuned layout investigations by considering topological, metric,
and geometric relationships, dening dierent kinds of unit spaces, and choosing the radii of analyses.
However, since moving humans may or may not travel to or see all spaces in a layout, Syntax analyses
might be considered ‘idealized’ because all spaces in a plan drawing and connections to all other spaces
are the base of analysis.
This presentation will couple foundational concepts of Space Syntax with advanced analytical techniques.
After a brief review of research that used these variables to investigate human and medical outcomes,
it will conclude with a discussion of its drawbacks and opportunities. With respect to the agenda of this
conference, the case studies and discussions will focus on healthcare and public health outcomes.
It is well understood that transport mode choice is effected by journey-distance and journeytime ... more It is well understood that transport mode choice is effected by journey-distance and journeytime (Plaut 2005; Pucher and Dijkstra 2003; Schwanen and Mokhtarian 2005; Wardman, Tight, and Page 2007) We also know that configurational attributes effect the locations of retail and commercial activities (Hillier et al. 1993), and these in-turn influence residential location choices. Finally, specific socio-demographic groups have different preferences regarding their choices of transportation. The research reported in this paper sought to investigate whether configuration, along with other planning variables, have a role on transportation mode choice. Since the regularity or deformity of urban grid may have an effect on Space Syntax analysis (Ratti 2004a, 2004b, 2005), two gridded and two non-gridded US cities were chosen. For this investigation seven land use variables, ten socio-economic and demographic variables, and three transportation variables in addition to six traditional Space S...
Journal of Urban Design, 2017
Abstract This paper describes an in-depth study of a grid-like American city using traditional an... more Abstract This paper describes an in-depth study of a grid-like American city using traditional and recent space syntax analytical methods. The case study is Lubbock, located in west Texas, and is characterized by its ‘almost’ ideal grid layout ‒ one that is perhaps prototypical of American conditions west of the Mississippi River. After extensively describing the city, it is examined by using topological, angular and metric radii of space syntax analysis. From these, comments are made on factors influencing its layout and functional distribution, their relationships to syntactic understandings and some recent development trends. Through this process, the paper addresses the debate regarding the appropriateness of space syntax in investigating grid conditions, and responds to an emerging syntax theorem: local structure is metric and global structure is topo-geometric. In addition, the historical development of grid-like cities in the US is described, an implicit comparison of three syntax methods is provided, and a renewed case of syntax applicability to grid-like cities is made.
Wayfinding and environmental cognition in the designed environment
The role of configuration in human cognition and wayfinding has been considered important by nume... more The role of configuration in human cognition and wayfinding has been considered important by numerous researchers. In this regard, experiments have suggested that the topology based configurational analysis of Space Syntax is a significant predictor of both. However, these experiments were mostly done in real settings without sufficient control of extraneous variables. Observations of wayfinding behavior were measured by the number of times an axial space was used (Haq, 2003; Peponis, 1990), and cognitive understanding was measured (among others) by the number of times an axial line appeared in sketch maps (Haq and Girotto, 2003; Kim, 2001). These measures correlated well with syntactic values of the spaces, yet, the experiments can be criticized because they did not address the presence of, or the interrelationships with, other environmental variables such as signs and numbers, architectural differentiation and perceptual access (Weisman, 1989) These drawbacks can be overcome with ...
The completion of this thesis and related publications would not have been possible without the e... more The completion of this thesis and related publications would not have been possible without the encouragement and assistance from Dr. Haq. Thank you again. This 2 nd thesis is again, dedicated to my parents. Thank you for all the wisdom along the journey. My brothers, Anom and Ari, thanks for listening and all the inputs. sticking up and helping out with lots of my emotional burden. My dearest new friend, Nana for the support and stats inputs from the other side of the world.
Although architects shape human movement and cognition through the process of designing buildings... more Although architects shape human movement and cognition through the process of designing buildings, their conceptions about these basic processes may not match those of the users. Movement and cognition in built environments is usually investigated from the perspectives of either the user or the designer. The proposed workshop aims to provide an open forum to bridge these perspectives in an effort to link design and research. Specifically, this workshop will feature: • Studies about the intentions that architects have regarding shaping human movement and human cognition in space as well as investigations into relevant knowledge employed by designers for these activities. • Studies about human movement and spatial cognition, both in real settings and under controlled experimental conditions (e.g. virtual reality studies) • (Technical) design support tools to improve the planning process and evaluation of future buildings with respect to anticipating and shaping human movement. • Evalu...
ABSTRACT Ph.D. Craig Zimring
Herd: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, Dec 7, 2018
The most difficult issue in writing a methods paper on Space Syntax is that it is not simply a me... more The most difficult issue in writing a methods paper on Space Syntax is that it is not simply a method. It is a theory on which a methodology has been built. In the 40 years since introduction, both its theory and its methods have advanced, including the creation and development of computerized software. Essentially Space Syntax investigates layouts, seen in plan drawings; but this is done from mature theoretical arguments about function in those spaces. While theories of society were at the genesis of Space Syntax, it has branched into cognition, transportation, economics, and so on, and has been used to investigate buildings, cities, and regions. In the last decade or so, Space Syntax has been used in different ways to investigate healthcare facilities. This article concentrates on explaining the analytical techniques of Space Syntax. The theoretical underpinnings are minimally described-just enough for the reader to understand the basis of the methods. All examples provided are based on the same hypothetical hospital floor layout for ease of comprehension and comparison. Also, all Space Syntax concepts are italicized for identification. Since the theoretical aspects are not treated in detail, the reader is advised to pay particular attention to the citations for advanced comprehension. This cannot be overemphasized.
Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, Dec 1, 2003
Space syntax research has had significant success over the years and has served to illustrate the... more Space syntax research has had significant success over the years and has served to illustrate the importance of configurational measures, especially those that take into account all the spaces in a system. Here, assumptions of axial lines as elementary spatial units have been overwhelming. Although based on a theoretical construct of visibility, this postulation has rarely been extended to perception or cognition and this has given rise to questions about geometric and metric considerations. The research presented here was carried out in three large urban hospitals. In them, 128 volunteers performed`open searches', where they attempted to become familiar with the hospital; directed searches', where they sought specific locations; and various cognitive mapping tasks such as pointing to locations that were not within sight and sketching the main corridors and routes of the hospital. The hospitals themselves were analyzed through conventional syntax measures of axial lines and a segmented version of those lines. Correlational and regression analyses revealed that, although use of space was best predicted by local measures (connectivity), distribution of people was better explained through integration-3. Performance comparisons between the environmental measures given by`whole' and`segmented' lines suggested that, at least in complex architectural settings, original syntax definitions of axial lines as uninterrupted visibility lines have more predictive power and better cognitive presence than`segmented' lines. The results also support previous findings of intelligibility as a factor in predicting space use by extending it to the cognitive realm. Additionally, it has brought out the reverse role of intelligibility-3. It was also found that mean depth of an entry effects the way a building is explored; therefore, knowledge of this spatial property may provide a fair indication of the relative importance which each space will have on wayfinding.
Journal of Urban Design, Oct 4, 2017
Abstract This paper describes an in-depth study of a grid-like American city using traditional an... more Abstract This paper describes an in-depth study of a grid-like American city using traditional and recent space syntax analytical methods. The case study is Lubbock, located in west Texas, and is characterized by its ‘almost’ ideal grid layout ‒ one that is perhaps prototypical of American conditions west of the Mississippi River. After extensively describing the city, it is examined by using topological, angular and metric radii of space syntax analysis. From these, comments are made on factors influencing its layout and functional distribution, their relationships to syntactic understandings and some recent development trends. Through this process, the paper addresses the debate regarding the appropriateness of space syntax in investigating grid conditions, and responds to an emerging syntax theorem: local structure is metric and global structure is topo-geometric. In addition, the historical development of grid-like cities in the US is described, an implicit comparison of three syntax methods is provided, and a renewed case of syntax applicability to grid-like cities is made.
Herd: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, Jul 1, 2012
Space Syntax is a theory and method that has been developing for the last 40 years. Originally co... more Space Syntax is a theory and method that has been developing for the last 40 years. Originally conceived as a theory of "society and space," it has expanded to other areas. An important aspect of this is technical; it allows the quantification of layouts, and unit spaces within a layout, so that the environment itself can produce independent variables in quantitative research. Increasingly, it is being used to study healthcare facilities. Space Syntax has thereby become relevant to healthcare facilities researchers and designers. This paper attempts to explain Space Syntax to a new audience of healthcare designers, administrators, and researchers; it provides a literature review on the use of Space Syntax in healthcare facility research and suggests some possibilities for future application.
Herd: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, Jul 1, 2010
Human understanding of environments often develops through asynchronous experiences. Individuals ... more Human understanding of environments often develops through asynchronous experiences. Individuals are either peripatetic, learning about the ‘relations’ between environmental units as they move about, or, if stationary, experience the eects of diurnal and seasonal changes. Either way, what they ‘see’ is always changing. The environmental learning of mobile humans is often called a ‘cognitive map’, and in turn is related to moving behavior and navigational decision making. Modelling the eects of continuous changes of location with sucient rigor for quantitative analyses has been challenging. The theory and methodology of Space Syntax oers precise ways of measuring complex environmental properties that arise from connections of each space to all other spaces contained in the same layout – sometimes directly, sometimes through other intermediate spaces. These analyses indicate a visual ‘structure’ perhaps comparable to that of a moving human’s experience. As such, they can be understood as synchronous models of asynchronous experiences. Increased computational powers now allow ner tuned layout investigations by considering topological, metric, and geometric relationships, dening dierent kinds of unit spaces, and choosing the radii of analyses. However, since moving humans may or may not travel to or see all spaces in a layout, Syntax analyses might be considered ‘idealized’ because all spaces in a plan drawing and connections to all other spaces are the base of analysis. This presentation will couple foundational concepts of Space Syntax with advanced analytical techniques. After a brief review of research that used these variables to investigate human and medical outcomes, it will conclude with a discussion of its drawbacks and opportunities. With respect to the agenda of this conference, the case studies and discussions will focus on healthcare and public health outcomes.
Herd: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, Apr 1, 2020
There seems to be a growing consensus in the literature that topological variables, both in the e... more There seems to be a growing consensus in the literature that topological variables, both in the environment and in sketch maps, are reliable indicators of wayfinding performance. Additionally, there are other suggestions regarding the use of topological variables to characterize and measure overall environments. In this regard, it has been reported that topologically derived configurational measures may provide a better sense of the ease or difficulty that each environment may present to an immersed and moving subject within it. A clarification of such claims is an important focus of this paper. Regarding the externalization of cognitive understanding, the technique of sketch mapping has a long tradition. However, there are many ways by which these maps have been analysed. The inclusion of Space Syntax methods provides a new dimension. A comparison of Space Syntax with some other tools of sketch map analysis is a secondary focus here. These and other similar issues are explored through an experiment conducted in two complex hospital buildings in the US, where ninety-six volunteers, completely unfamiliar with the two environments, participated. They explored the setting, completed wayfinding tasks, pointed to unseen destinations, estimated distances between them and drew sketch maps from memory. The environment was analyzed through existing Space Syntax methods and some additional theoretically derived techniques. Two datasets were eventually produced: one by person and the other by corridor. The first one included sketch map variables, wayfinding performance indicators and cognitive tasks. The dataset by corridor included two kinds of data: independent values of the corridors themselves that was derived from Space Syntax analysis and wayfinding use of those corridors. An important conclusion from the analysis is that intelligibility of settings is an important measure that is predictive of wayfinding and environmental cognition within environments. However, geometric and metric relations cannot be ignored and there may be certain instances when those factors may become overwhelming.
Automation in Construction, Aug 1, 2001
This paper discusses the use of a computer tool designed to aid an architecture studio by: 1) sup... more This paper discusses the use of a computer tool designed to aid an architecture studio by: 1) supporting input by distant critics; 2) providing access to online cases and reference materials; 3) encouraging students to be clear and articulate about their projects; 4) supporting collaboration among students. The project, called CoOL Studio, employed a CoWeb, which allowed easy creation and modification of Web pages without any security measures. Students posted their designs at several points during the term and six distant expert consultants provided critiques. This project demonstrates that a relatively simple representation tool-one that allowed students and critics to interact on editable web pages-can usefully open up the design space of the architecture studio but that care needs to be given in understanding how computer tools relate to the tasks and rituals of interaction that go on in everyday architecture studio pedagogy.
Enquiry, Dec 13, 2017
Permissions and copyright Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publicati... more Permissions and copyright Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal (Attribution-ShareAlike). Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) You are free to: Share-copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format. Adapt-remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. Under the following terms: Attribution-You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. No additional restrictions-You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Strategies for Research in Healthcare Settings: Challenges and Opportunities, 2022
Human understanding of environments often develops through asynchronous experiences. Individuals... more Human understanding of environments often develops through asynchronous experiences.
Individuals are either peripatetic, learning about the ‘relations’ between environmental units as they move
about, or, if stationary, experience the eects of diurnal and seasonal changes. Either way, what they ‘see’
is always changing. The environmental learning of mobile humans is often called a ‘cognitive map’, and in
turn is related to moving behavior and navigational decision making.
Modelling the eects of continuous changes of location with sucient rigor for quantitative analyses
has been challenging. The theory and methodology of Space Syntax oers precise ways of measuring
complex environmental properties that arise from connections of each space to all other spaces
contained in the same layout – sometimes directly, sometimes through other intermediate spaces.
These analyses indicate a visual ‘structure’ perhaps comparable to that of a moving human’s experience.
As such, they can be understood as synchronous models of asynchronous experiences. Increased
computational powers now allow ner tuned layout investigations by considering topological, metric,
and geometric relationships, dening dierent kinds of unit spaces, and choosing the radii of analyses.
However, since moving humans may or may not travel to or see all spaces in a layout, Syntax analyses
might be considered ‘idealized’ because all spaces in a plan drawing and connections to all other spaces
are the base of analysis.
This presentation will couple foundational concepts of Space Syntax with advanced analytical techniques.
After a brief review of research that used these variables to investigate human and medical outcomes,
it will conclude with a discussion of its drawbacks and opportunities. With respect to the agenda of this
conference, the case studies and discussions will focus on healthcare and public health outcomes.
It is well understood that transport mode choice is effected by journey-distance and journeytime ... more It is well understood that transport mode choice is effected by journey-distance and journeytime (Plaut 2005; Pucher and Dijkstra 2003; Schwanen and Mokhtarian 2005; Wardman, Tight, and Page 2007) We also know that configurational attributes effect the locations of retail and commercial activities (Hillier et al. 1993), and these in-turn influence residential location choices. Finally, specific socio-demographic groups have different preferences regarding their choices of transportation. The research reported in this paper sought to investigate whether configuration, along with other planning variables, have a role on transportation mode choice. Since the regularity or deformity of urban grid may have an effect on Space Syntax analysis (Ratti 2004a, 2004b, 2005), two gridded and two non-gridded US cities were chosen. For this investigation seven land use variables, ten socio-economic and demographic variables, and three transportation variables in addition to six traditional Space S...
Journal of Urban Design, 2017
Abstract This paper describes an in-depth study of a grid-like American city using traditional an... more Abstract This paper describes an in-depth study of a grid-like American city using traditional and recent space syntax analytical methods. The case study is Lubbock, located in west Texas, and is characterized by its ‘almost’ ideal grid layout ‒ one that is perhaps prototypical of American conditions west of the Mississippi River. After extensively describing the city, it is examined by using topological, angular and metric radii of space syntax analysis. From these, comments are made on factors influencing its layout and functional distribution, their relationships to syntactic understandings and some recent development trends. Through this process, the paper addresses the debate regarding the appropriateness of space syntax in investigating grid conditions, and responds to an emerging syntax theorem: local structure is metric and global structure is topo-geometric. In addition, the historical development of grid-like cities in the US is described, an implicit comparison of three syntax methods is provided, and a renewed case of syntax applicability to grid-like cities is made.
Wayfinding and environmental cognition in the designed environment
The role of configuration in human cognition and wayfinding has been considered important by nume... more The role of configuration in human cognition and wayfinding has been considered important by numerous researchers. In this regard, experiments have suggested that the topology based configurational analysis of Space Syntax is a significant predictor of both. However, these experiments were mostly done in real settings without sufficient control of extraneous variables. Observations of wayfinding behavior were measured by the number of times an axial space was used (Haq, 2003; Peponis, 1990), and cognitive understanding was measured (among others) by the number of times an axial line appeared in sketch maps (Haq and Girotto, 2003; Kim, 2001). These measures correlated well with syntactic values of the spaces, yet, the experiments can be criticized because they did not address the presence of, or the interrelationships with, other environmental variables such as signs and numbers, architectural differentiation and perceptual access (Weisman, 1989) These drawbacks can be overcome with ...
The completion of this thesis and related publications would not have been possible without the e... more The completion of this thesis and related publications would not have been possible without the encouragement and assistance from Dr. Haq. Thank you again. This 2 nd thesis is again, dedicated to my parents. Thank you for all the wisdom along the journey. My brothers, Anom and Ari, thanks for listening and all the inputs. sticking up and helping out with lots of my emotional burden. My dearest new friend, Nana for the support and stats inputs from the other side of the world.
Although architects shape human movement and cognition through the process of designing buildings... more Although architects shape human movement and cognition through the process of designing buildings, their conceptions about these basic processes may not match those of the users. Movement and cognition in built environments is usually investigated from the perspectives of either the user or the designer. The proposed workshop aims to provide an open forum to bridge these perspectives in an effort to link design and research. Specifically, this workshop will feature: • Studies about the intentions that architects have regarding shaping human movement and human cognition in space as well as investigations into relevant knowledge employed by designers for these activities. • Studies about human movement and spatial cognition, both in real settings and under controlled experimental conditions (e.g. virtual reality studies) • (Technical) design support tools to improve the planning process and evaluation of future buildings with respect to anticipating and shaping human movement. • Evalu...
ABSTRACT Ph.D. Craig Zimring
Proceedings of the 11th Space Syntax Symposium, 2017
It is well understood that transport mode choice is effected by journey-distance and journey-time... more It is well understood that transport mode choice is effected by journey-distance and journey-time) We also know that configurational attributes effect the locations of retail and commercial activities (Hillier et al. 1993), and these in-turn influence residential location choices. Finally, specific socio-demographic groups have different preferences regarding their choices of transportation. The research reported in this paper sought to investigate whether configuration, along with other planning variables, have a role on transportation mode choice. Since the regularity or deformity of urban grid may have an effect on Space Syntax analysis (Ratti 2004a, 2004b, 2005), two gridded and two non-gridded US cities were chosen. For this investigation seven land use variables, ten socioeconomic and demographic variables, and three transportation variables in addition to six traditional Space Syntax variables were collected and used. Data were assembled from online open source databases of the respective cities and the US census bureau. Space Syntax topological and angular analysis of CAD drawn axial lines and street centerlines extracted from GIS maps were performed. ArcGIS spatial analysis tools were applied to combine land use, socioeconomic & demographic, transportation and Space Syntax variables to the scale of census block-groups that was selected as the study unit. Several multiple regression and linear regression analyses indicated that renters and non-family households are configurationally separated from homeowners and family households: the former locating themselves in integrated areas where businesses are located. Homeowners and family households prefer segregated areas and tend to drive to work. The results also indicated a definite role of city layouts. One important variation observed in our comparative analysis between gridded and non-gridded cities was that choice was an important indicator for gridded cities while integration was for non-gridded ones. Although the reason for this is speculative at this point, this distinction will serve as an important beginning for future investigations and understanding the particular syntactic properties of gridded American cities.