University of California Berkeley: Environmental Modeling Including Social and Cognitive Factors in Design Using Space Syntax (original) (raw)
Related papers
Environmental Modeling: Using Space Syntax in Spatial Cognition Research
2010
The present work aims to investigate the role of 3 factors related to the environmental configuration in emergency wayfinding strategies. In particular, it moves from the results of a previous real-world study in which visibility, in particular, seemed to be the most influent factor in influencing wayfinding strategies. Angular incidence, in turn, played a-minor-role, whereas metrical distance was the less used criterion. These outputs appeared to deserve to be more deeply studied, so that two VR experiment were designed to better control environmental variables and to compare the results obtained in different situations. Results confirm the role of Visibility and Angular Incidence in influencing participant's wayfinding strategies.
Overview of Scientific Aspects of Spatial Cognition: Significance in Architectural Design
Spatial cognition in humans is not only an essential aspect of our social behavior, but also elemental in gaining insight on human psychology, perception and memory. Our sensory perception of the 3-dimensional environment, processing of this acquired spatial information and its storage in our memory provide the key links between cognition and behavior. Scientific knowledge of this bridging mechanism is critical in architecture and urban design because our cultures are direct derivative of our environments. Scholars further argue that architectural and urban spaces are reflections of historical, cultural and social values, which are deeply influenced by our inherent modes of perceiving spaces. Therefore the correlation between spatial cognition, architecture and culture is not linear but forms a closed loop. In order to understand the implications of spaces on human behavior and vice versa, it is first imperative to understand the process of spatial cognition and its computation in the human brain. Furthermore, it is essential to map various sequential of this process from sensory input (visual, tactile, auditory and combination of these modalities) to information storage and segregation in our memory to the final stage of its retrieval. This paper investigates the current literature on these aspects of human spatial cognition and highlights the implications of these findings in the process of spatial design and planning. The paper further studies the different computational models of the cognitive process developed for applications - such as robotic exploration in unmapped regions (wherein the model could build its own memory maps); for human interactive interfaces (wherein the model can map the perception of the user through recreation of user’s mental spatial image). The paper concludes by proposing unique approaches to design of architectural spaces in contrast to the conventional architectural tools. This framework, which is predominantly driven by spatial cognition, aims to redefine the modality of design and creative design pedagogy.
Frontiers in Psychology, 2016
Knowing who we are, and where we are, are two fundamental aspects of our physical and mental experience. Although the domains of spatial and social cognition are often studied independently, a few recent areas of scholarship have explored the interactions of place and self. This fits in with increasing evidence for embodied theories of cognition, where mental processes are grounded in action and perception. Who we are might be integrated with where we are, and impact how we move through space. Individuals vary in personality, navigational strategies, and numerous cognitive and social competencies. Here we review the relation between social and spatial spheres of existence in the realms of philosophical considerations, neural and psychological representations, and evolutionary context, and how we might use the built environment to suit who we are, or how it creates who we are. In particular we investigate how two spatial reference frames, egocentric and allocentric, might transcend into the social realm. We then speculate on how environments may interact with spatial cognition. Finally, we suggest how a framework encompassing spatial and social cognition might be taken in consideration by architects and urban planners.
Wayfinding and environmental cognition in the designed environment
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.
Towards a Spatial Congruence Theory How spatial cognition can inform urban planning and design
Walkability in urban environments is explicitly aimed at by policymakers. However, navigation, although a fundamental part of walkability, is typically absent from studies of pedestrian movement and has traditionally been separated from architectural practice. This becomes evident in urban design guidelines which seldom address navigation issues. Yet, as urban environments grow, wayfinding becomes increasingly difficult. The performance of pedestrian navigation is closely related to urban configuration. However, the opportunities to alter configuration are rare and costly. Evidence shows that other physical properties also influence decision making during navigation. So, which ‘non- configurational’ features can designers use to influence navigability, and how should these be combined with ‘configurational’ properties? In this study, a detailed analysis of the visual experience of users while wayfinding in real environments through eye-tracking, is used to identify objects of attention and visual search behaviours, such as hesitation points, gazing direction and fixated elements, thus revealing which design features are more relevant to navigation. Evidence that the ‘signified’, rather than the ‘signifier’, is relevant to cognition, is studied through an analysis of declared preferences which explores the role of the presence of other pedestrians in wayfinding decision making. The results show high levels of attention to building edges and to pedestrians which reflects the importance of both configuration and meaning in wayfinding. The significance of the presence of people seems to partially explain the role that configurational intelligibility has on the level of navigability of a setting, by acting as a local cue for global configurational properties. These results suggest that features that presuppose usability may be the most relevant non-configurational features for wayfinding. This insight on the nature of spatial cognition in real large environments creates the potential to the development of an approach to design that is more centred on the user, and thus may inform the creation of user-oriented environments. Furthermore, exposing the rational behind one link between local information and global cognition emphasises the relevance and potential of a theory of spatial congruence.
The contribution of space syntax to a comprehensive theory of environmental psychology
… , 6th International Space Syntax …, 2007
The study of the interrelationships of human mind and behavior with the physical environment may be referred to as "environmental psychology" (or "behavioral geography," "the psychology of space and place," etc.). In my talk, I review elements of a comprehensive theory of environmental psychology. The theoretical framework of space syntax holds promise as an important contributor to this comprehensive theory, especially when combined with the analysis of isovists. It provides a rich and diverse set of quantitative indices for characterizing places in many ways that are potentially relevant to a variety of psychological responses, including choosing routes while locomoting, orientation and disorientation, spatial knowledge acquisition, perceived spaciousness, privacy and social interaction, stress and fear, and aesthetic judgments. Space syntax also falls short in contributing to a comprehensive theory. It flirts with causal ambiguity in some cases, underplays the significance of metric spatial properties (including distance and direction), says nothing about individual and group differences in people's responses to layouts, overlooks the relevance of the overall shape or "gestalt" of layout, largely discounts the role of the superficial appearance of the environment, and assigns no special significance to the vertical or 3D qualities of places. I illustrate these claims with examples from research by my colleagues and me, and suggest ways to improve space syntax's contribution to a comprehensive theory of environmental psychology.
Cognitive Models in Urban Design and Spatial Planning
SGEM International Multidisciplinary Scientific Conferences on Social Sciences and Arts, 2015
This article continues the series of publications focused on the application of mental models of built environment in Urban Design and Spatial Planning. The issue of scale, both as a scale of event and as a scale of physical dimensions of space-gives us a ground to propose three rows of spatial models of public space: micro-, mezzo-, and macro-spaces. The concept of spatial models or patterns was tested in a series of field studies. Micro-space is seen as an object of urban design and landscape architecture. Micro-spaces are classified with the Diagram of Spatial Behavior. Mezzo-space can be described as clustered micro-spaces with surrounding area. We propose to classify Mezzo-space by the types of social control of the place. Social control is provided by people, their ability to see, hear, and to be involved in the events. Macro-space is a portion of the urban territory that embraces several mezzo-spaces, which are united under conditions of pedestrian accessibility, proximity and circulation. In this study, we identified and interpreted the public space structure in modern cities. These considerations are important for urban planning, urban design, and urban management of built environment. We proposed a system of basic models: micro-, mezzo-, and macro-spaces that help to understand cognitive links and usage of public space in built environment.