IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/envirb/v39y2012i1p63-82.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Challenges in Multilevel Wayfinding: A Case Study with the Space Syntax Technique

Author

Listed:
  • Christoph Hölscher
  • Martin Brösamle
  • Georg Vrachliotis

    (ETH Zurich, Faculty of Architecture, Computer-Aided Architectural Design, HILE 15.1, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 1, Zurich 8093, Switzerland)

Abstract

In this paper we reanalyse an experiment on wayfinding in complex multilevel buildings, in the light of formal measures derived from space syntax. The empirical study compared the performance of experienced and inexperienced participants in a set of wayfinding tasks, and identified specific strategies for vertical navigation. Inexperienced participants predominantly rely on a central-point strategy, while experienced ones have more accurate knowledge and plan more effectively. This is reflected by space-syntax-based route measures: routes of inexperienced users showed higher values of connectivity and integration as well as step depth to goal. Usability deficits of the complex building could be tied to formal analysis, revealing additional problems of the setting. Special emphasis is put on proper modelling of the vertical connections between the floors in visibility graph analysis. On the basis of the space syntax results, two layout redesigns are proposed, which provide improvements both for general navigability and for orientation at specific locations.

Suggested Citation

  • Christoph Hölscher & Martin Brösamle & Georg Vrachliotis, 2012. "Challenges in Multilevel Wayfinding: A Case Study with the Space Syntax Technique," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 39(1), pages 63-82, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirb:v:39:y:2012:i:1:p:63-82
    DOI: 10.1068/b34050t
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1068/b34050t
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1068/b34050t?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:envirb:v:39:y:2012:i:1:p:63-82. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.