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Walkability Compass—A Space Syntax Solution for Comparative Studies

Author

Listed:
  • Kestutis Zaleckis

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kaunas University of Technology, 48-413 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Szymon Chmielewski

    (Department of Grassland and Landscape Studies, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland)

  • Jūratė Kamičaitytė

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kaunas University of Technology, 48-413 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Indre Grazuleviciute-Vileniske

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kaunas University of Technology, 48-413 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Halina Lipińska

    (Department of Grassland and Landscape Studies, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland)

Abstract

The ongoing discourse on air quality and climate changes positions walkability as a pivotal point of sustainable urban planning. Urban studies examine a city’s walkability in terms of pedestrian flows, design qualities, and street network topology, leaving walkability comparative frameworks under development. Building on the space syntax theory, this research introduces a “walkability compass”, a four spatial indicator-designed tool for city walkability assessment and comparison. The tools are being tested on eight Baltic region cities: Vilnius, Kaunas (LT), Malmö (SE), Riga (LV), Tallinn (ES), Gdansk, Bialystok, Lublin (PL). The nine-step method framework integrates four indexes: Gravity (Gr), Reach (Re), Straightness (St), and Population density (Pop). The “walkability compass” results reveal significant Re and St correlations; thus, visual and cultural aspects become the main factors in pedestrian-friendly cities. The spatial pattern typology has matched similar cities (Malmö and Kaunas) to work closely on sustainable urban planning development. In all case studies, specific walkability zones were mapped, but the Gr zones turned out to be the most compact ones (the Z-score of Gr was ranged from 355.4 to 584; other indexes oscillated between 209.4 and 542.6). The walkability mapping results are publicly shared via WebMap to stimulate the participatory discussion on case studies cities further development.

Suggested Citation

  • Kestutis Zaleckis & Szymon Chmielewski & Jūratė Kamičaitytė & Indre Grazuleviciute-Vileniske & Halina Lipińska, 2022. "Walkability Compass—A Space Syntax Solution for Comparative Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-25, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:4:p:2033-:d:746637
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    References listed on IDEAS

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