Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Assistant Professor of Urban Design, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Shiraz University.
2 Master's student in Urban Design, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Shiraz University.
Abstract
This paper intends to evaluate individual’s activity patterns in urban public realms. The nature of the public realm reflects our everyday life, civic culture and social discourses. In order to have a more popular and vibrant public realm, an attractive and safe environment, which meets the needs of its users, should be provided. In recent years, this issue has been an attractive topic not only for psychologists and sociologists but also for urban planners and all those involved in designing urban environments. In this regard, this study tries to analyze behavioural patterns and social activities in an urban public realm (Ahmadi Pedestrian Walkway) using Behavioral Observation method. This method leads to a systematic study of the behavioural patterns of individuals in the surrounding environment. In other words, the Behaviour Observation method is a novel way of recording and understanding the importance of public life in an urban environment. The aim of behaviour observation method is to determine how and by whom these public realms would be used and what facilities should be provided for the space users. Therefore, in this study, the physical-environmental qualities, activity patterns, and behavioural components are investigated through a field survey as well as natural and participatory observation. The tools of this methodology are recording the location of stationary activities, recording the stopping places, activity counting and tracking technique. To validate the findings of the study, a survey strategy was utilized to adapt the findings of the study to the viewpoints of 50 space users. The results revealed that Ahmadi Pedestrian Walkway in the middle hours of the day (14:00 to 17:00) encountered a fracture of stationary activity level and reduction of activity patterns. The highest pedestrian trace volume (76%) and stopping point (78%) were recorded in the shaded parts of the sidewalk. Also, evaluating the shadow maps, stationary activity maps, and pedestrian trace volumes, it seemed that the shading and climatic comfort had a correlation with behavioural patterns and social activities in Ahmadi Pedestrian Walkway.
In conclusion, it can be argued that climatic comfort plays a crucial role in the vitality of urban public realms in Shiraz. Also, Behavioural Observation method is an effective way for measuring and analyzing behavioural patterns and social activities. Therefore, it can be considered in future ecological interventions of urban public realms.
Keywords
- Urban Public Realm
- Behavioural Observation Method
- Behavioral-Activity Pattern
- Shiraz Ahmadi Pedestrian Area
Main Subjects
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