1. Effects of Urban Form and Navigational Aids on Visitors' Spatial Cognition and Wayfinding Behaviour
- Author
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Burke, Matthew, Fard, Tooran Alizadeh, Yu, Rongrong, Vaez Eslami, Sima, Burke, Matthew, Fard, Tooran Alizadeh, Yu, Rongrong, and Vaez Eslami, Sima
- Abstract
Full Text, Thesis (PhD Doctorate), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), School of Environment and Sc, Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology, Wayfinding is a cognitive activity that is embedded in a complex social and spatial environment. People use their cognitive ability to gather spatial information from their surrounding environment while navigating and finding their way through space. Lynch (1960) argued that there is a relationship between physical perceivable urban elements and urban legibility, and that a strong legible city would help form a strong mental image of the city. In turn, a very imageable city would facilitate urban orientation and wayfinding performance. However, in addition to spatial information other external information like navigational aids and social environment could assist navigators to reach their desired destinations easier. With the ubiquity of “wayshowing” tools such as paper maps, digital maps, smart phone navigators, and local signage, pedestrians are able to locate themselves in an unfamiliar environment and find their desired destinations. Each of these tools provides specific spatial information in particular ways, with a range of limitations in their use. The way visitors to a new city wayfind in the digital era and their social and spatial interaction with their surrounding environment has been given less research attention than might be expected. In addition, physical urban elements are not the only characteristics that shape urban form. Spatial configuration of urban layout and land use are other influential factors that influence people’s route choice behaviour. This study aims to explore: a) the effects of different wayfinding tools, such as paper maps, GPS and non-mapping on an individual’s spatial cognition; b) the effects of urban form and navigational aids on people’s wayfinding performance; c) the effects of urban form and navigational tools on navigators’ social and spatial interaction with space; and, d) how people make sense of an unfamiliar urban environment and find their ways within it while using different types of navigational aids. 38 participants
- Published
- 2019