نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی

نویسندگان

1 دانشجوی دکترا شهرسازی، دانشکده هنر و معماری، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد مشهد، مشهد، ایران.

2 استادیار گروه شهرسازی، دانشکده هنر و معماری، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد مشهد، مشهد، ایران.

10.34785/J011.2022.970

چکیده

مسیریابی توانایی شناسایی موقعیت مکانی و رسیدن به مقصد، حرکت در محیط‌های فضایی است. این موضوع در خصوص کودکان که معمولاً استقلال و تجربه کافی در جابه‌جایی در محیط‌های شهری را ندارند، بسیار حائز اهمیت است. این پژوهش باهدف بررسی تأثیر نشانه‌های شهری بر مسیریابی کودکان در فضای شهری تدوین گردیده است. روش تحقیق در پژوهش حاضر کاربردی و پیمایشی است. روش نمونه‌گیری به‌صورت تصادفی با استفاده از فرمول کوکران و تکمیل پرسشنامه توسط 106 نفر از کودکانی که در بازه‌ سنی 12-8 سال هستند، انجام گردیده است. در تحلیل داده‌ها به منظور ارزیابی تأثیر نقش نشانه‌ها در مسیریابی کودکان پس از جمع‌آوری داده‌ها، اطلاعات حاصل با روش‌ تحلیل عاملی تأییدی و با استفاده از نرم‌افزار Amos مورد تحلیل قرار گرفتند. همچنین برای تحلیل داده‌های کیفی به بررسی نقاشی‌های کودکان پرداخته‌شده است. نتایج پژوهش بیانگر آن است که تفاوت در گروه‌های سنی کودکان باعث تفاوت در میزان تأثیرگذاری نشانه‌ها در مسیریابی کودکان می‌گردد. همچنین عناصر کالبدی و نشانه‌ها در فضاهای شهری در مسیریابی کودکان در محدوده مطالعاتی پژوهش بسیار تأثیرگذارند. ازجمله ویژگی‌های اشاره شده کودکان هشت ساله در فرآیند مسیریابی می‌توان به فضای سبز و فرم ابنیه اشاره نمود. کودکان 9-10 ساله به فرم کالبدی و تمایز ساختمان‌ها در فرآیند مسیریابی توجه دارند. کودکان 10-12 ساله به ساختمان‌هایی اشاره دارند که در آنها تنوع رنگی بیشتر و ساختمان‌هایی که فرم معماری متمایزتری نسبت به سایر ساختمان‌ها دارند. کودکان 10-12 ساله از معابر و ساختمان‌های شاخص در مسیریابی استفاده می‌نمایند. بررسی‌های صورت گرفته تأثیر کالبد متمایز در رفتار مسیریابی کودکان را نشان می‌دهد.

کلیدواژه‌ها

موضوعات

عنوان مقاله [English]

Investigating the effect of urban landmarks on children’s way-finding (Case study: Sajjad neighborhood of Mashhad)

نویسندگان [English]

  • shima abedi 1
  • Sanaz saeedi 2

1 Faculty of Art and Architecture, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran.

چکیده [English]

Highlights
- The characteristics mentioned by 8-year-old children as used in the wayfinding process include green space and the forms of buildings.
- The directional factors considered in the selection of signs in children’s wayfinding process include the colors and shapes of buildings, building forms, and shapes and architectures of buildings, and the performance of buildings has a direct impact on the choice of signs in wayfinding.
- The uniqueness of the sign, color, form, shape, and distinction have great impacts in the consideration of the signs and further completion of the wayfinding process.
- The guiding elements used in children’s wayfinding are different at different ages.
 
Introduction
Spatial navigation is influenced by landmarks, which are prominent visual features of the environment. These cues are stored in memory as structures based on places in space, and help advance path knowledge. Spatial representation of landmarks is preferably coded according to their capability of navigation. Signs affect our ability to navigate a familiar or unfamiliar environment successfully. Sights are messages from the urban space. This is especially important for children, who do not usually have the independence and experience required to move in an urban environment. This research was conducted to investigate the effect of urban signs on children navigating the urban space in the Sajjad neighborhood of the city of Mashhad, Iran.
Theoretical Framework
Humans create images of cities in their minds according to their physiological and social characteristics, such as age, gender, social class, ethnicity, nationality, skills, and information received from the environment. These images turn into the basis for a person’s behavior toward the environment. Moving through space and navigating are essential aspects of space exploration. As part of the understanding and experience of the environment, routing involves spatial decision-making for arrival at the destination. Sights are a kind of message from urban spaces. People choose landmarks in the city for their routing. Humans navigate with information support by quickly observing and understanding signs, maps, and signals. Route knowledge includes the important sights in the environment. This study sought to investigate the effect of signs on children navigating urban spaces.
Methodology
This applied research was a quantitative-qualitative survey with a sequential strategy. Data collection was based on a review of authoritative sources concerning the research topic, the indicators were extracted based on experts’ views, and the test was performed in a case study. Initially, twenty questionnaires were completed as a preliminary, randomized test and distributed among children. The population included 245 children aged 8-12 years, selected in the Sajjad neighborhood, given an accuracy of 95% and a confidence level of 0.05. Sample size was set to 150 children and then reduced to 106 due to the lack of cooperation of some children. Thus, 106 girls and boys in the age range of 8-12 years were randomly interviewed. The questionnaire was divided into two parts based on a five-point Likert scale. The variables in the theoretical framework of the research were tested in the questionnaire. Moreover, Cronbach’s alpha, obtained as 0.761 for the questionnaire, was used to assess validity and reliability, which indicates the desired coefficient of reliability and content validity of the questionnaire.
Upon completion of the questionnaire, the children were interviewed, and the meanings of the questions were fully explained to them. The data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively in Amos using confirmatory factor analysis methods. A qualitative analysis was made of the children’s paintings, and overlay and graphic methods were used to summarize it. The main variables of the research included routing and signage, which were evaluated according to the theoretical framework of the research.
Results and Discussion
The results indicate that differences in children’s age groups cause differences in the effectiveness of signals in their wayfinding. Moreover, physical elements and signs in urban spaces are highly effective in their guidance through the study area. Among the features used by 8-year-old children in the wayfinding process, we can mention green spaces and the forms of buildings. Children aged 9-10 years pay attention to the physical forms and distinctions of buildings in the routing process. Children with 10-12 years of age refer to buildings with greater color variety and ones with more distinctive architectural forms than others. The results demonstrate that the uniqueness of the sign, color, form, shape, and distinction has a great effect in the process of considering the sign and the persistence of the wayfinding process. Therefore, given the priority of following the signs in children’s process of wayfinding in urban spaces, it can be pointed out that the physical, functional, and semantic manifestation of the signs also has a great impact in the process.
The role of signals in children of the examined age range was investigated according to the theoretical model of the research, along with the characteristics of signals in the environment. Initially, signs were paid greater attention by children, as extracted from the questionnaires and drawings. Among the signs mentioned by children in the Sajjad neighborhood were those of Laleh Street, Melli Bank, Jami Park, Pomegranate Juice Store, and Mina Park..
Conclusion
Children in the 10-12 age range use prominent commercial and residential buildings in wayfinding. Studies indicate the effect of a distinct body on children’s wayfinding behavior, given that signs are one of children’s navigation tools. It was found through the examination of the routing process as the main variable of the researchthat wayfinding is facilitated for children in the Sajjad neighborhood by the available signs and indicators. The analysis results of the effect of cues in children’s wayfinding process indicate that different guiding elements are used in the process at different ages. At the age of 8, children use paths and buildings to navigate. In the age groups of 11-12 and 9-10 years, they pay attention to the forms of roads and the shapes and functions of buildings, and turn in different directions at decision points during the wayfinding process. In the drawings, attention is paid to the ways and to the forms, shapes, functions, and colors of buildings. Therefore, children’s familiarity with the neighborhood has been observed in their wayfinding. The results indicate that there are relationships between wayfinding and environmental characteristics (physical and communication components of signals).

کلیدواژه‌ها [English]

  • child
  • urban sign
  • wayfinding
  • Sajjad neighborhood of Mashhad
Azmoudeh, M(2012). Memari va tarahi baraye kodakan[Architecture and Design for Children], Elm va Danesh Publications [in Persian].
Bahm, C. R., Domingo, T., Falana, A., Hampton, N., Hedayati, M., & Maurat, R. (2016). The role of cognitive maps in familiarity and wayfinding. IConference 2016 Proceedings.‏
Bala, H. A. (2016). Landmarks in urban space as signs. Current Urban Studies, 4(04), 409..
Bentley, L., Alcock, A., Murrain, P., McGlynn, S. and Smith, G. (1985). Responsive environments: A manual for designers. Oxford: Butterworth Architecture.
Burles, F., Liu, I., Hart, C., Murias, K., Graham, S. A., & Iaria, G. (2020). The Emergence of Cognitive Maps for Spatial Navigation in 7‐to 10‐Year‐Old Children. Child development, 91(3), e733-e744.‏
Chang, R., Butkiewicz, T., Ziemkiewicz, C., Wartell, Z., Pollard, N., & Ribarsky, W. (2008). Legible simplification of textured urban models. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, 28(3), 27-36..
Chen, C. H., Chang, W. C., & Chang, W. T. (2009). Gender differences in relation to wayfinding strategies, navigational support design, and wayfinding task difficulty. Journal of environmental psychology, 29(2), 220-226.
Dalton, R. C., Hölscher, C., & Montello, D. R. (2019). Wayfinding as a social activity. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 142.
Damayanti, R., & Kossak, F. (2016). Examining spatial identity of kampungs through young adults’ perception in Surabaya–Indonesia. Journal of Architecture and Urbanism, 40(1), 18-28.
Demirbaş, G. U. D. (2001). Spatial familiarity as a dimension of wayfinding (Doctoral dissertation, Bilkent Universitesi (Turkey)).
Dijkstra, J., de Vries, B., & Jessurun, J. (2014). Wayfinding search strategies and matching familiarity in the built environment through virtual navigation. Transportation Research Procedia, 2, 141-148.‏
Farokhi, M., & Hashemi, M. (2011). The analysis of children's drawings: social, emotional, physical, and psychological aspects. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 30, 2219-2224.
Filomena, G., Verstegen, J. A., & Manley, E. (2019). A computational approach to ‘The Image of the City’. Cities, 89, 14-25.
Gale, N., Golledge, R. G., Halperin, W. , & Couclelis, H. (1990). Exploring Spatial Familiarity. The Professional Geographer, 42(3), 299-313.
Galvao, M. D. L., & Schwering, A. (2018, August). Spatial Distribution of Local Landmarks in Route-Based Sketch Maps. In Spatial Cognition XI: 11th International Conference, Spatial Cognition 2018, Tübingen, Germany, 5(2) 5-8.
Golledge, R. G., Jacobson, R. D., Kitchin, R., & Blades, M. (2000). Cognitive maps, spatial abilities, and human wayfinding. Geographical review of Japan, Series B., 73(2), 93-104.
GÜNEŞ, E., & OLGUNTÜRK, N. (2020). Color as a Visual Cue for Pointing Task Performance in Young Children. Online Journal of Art and Design, 8(1).
Harris, L. J. (1981). Sex-relate d variations in spatial skill .In L.S. Liben, A. H. Patterson & N. Newcombe, (Ed s).Spatial Representation and Behavior across the Life-sp an. New York: Academic Press, pp. 83-125.
Helvacıog, E., & Olguntürk, N. (2011). Colour contribution to children's wayfinding in school environments. Optics & Laser Technology, 43(2), 410-419..
Hunt, E. R., Kendall, C., Stanbury, E., Sendova-Franks, A. B., & Franks, N. R. (2018). Complementary landmarks facilitate ant navigation. Behavioural processes, 157, 702-710.
Jansen-Osmann, P., & Fuchs, P. (2006). Wayfinding behavior and spatial knowledge of adults and children in a virtual environment: The role of landmarks. Experimental Psychology, 53(3), 171.
Jansen-Osmann, P., & Wiedenbauer, G. (2004). Wayfinding performance in and the spatial knowledge of a color-coded building for adults and children. Spatial cognition and computation, 4(4), 337-358.‏
Johar Teymouri, E, Islamic Religion, A, Alipour, H, (2013)Barasi rahkarahy rafe niaz kodakan dar fazay omomi mahale ba takeed bar paydari ejtemaee [Study of solutions to meet the needs of children in the public area of the neighborhood with emphasis on promoting social sustainability], Conference on Architecture and Sustainable Urban Planning with a focus on indigenous architecture to sustainable city Mashhad. [in Persian].
Koseoglu,E.Onder,DE.(2011). Subjective and objective dimensions of spatial legibility. Social and Behavioral Sciences.30,1191-1195.
Lingwood, J., Blades, M., Farran, E. K., Courbois, Y., & Matthews, D. (2015). The development of wayfinding abilities in children: Learning routes with and without landmarks. Journal of environmental psychology, 41, 74-80.
Löwen, H., Krukar, J., & Schwering, A. (2019). Spatial learning with orientation maps: The influence of different environmental features on spatial knowledge acquisition. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 8(3), 149.‏
Lynch, K, (1960). The Image of the City.  The MIT Press: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Mabhout, M , Younesi, Z, Hosseini, M. (2013) shahre ideale kodakan irani nemone moredi mashhad moghadas [The Ideal City of Iranian Children, A Case Study of Holy Mashhad] , Conference in Search of the City of Tomorrow, Tehran. [in Persian].
Massimo De Marchi, M (2015)TransitTrace: Facilitating UrbanWayfinding via an Ambient Display Visualization, Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Ingegneria Informatica Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria.
Montazerolhodjah, M., Sharifnejad, M., & Pourjafar, M. (2018). The Characteristics of Distinctive Urban Elements in Citizens’ Cognitive Maps (Case Study: The City of Isfahan. .37-47 28(1), [in Persian].
Norgate, S. H., & Ormerod, M. G. (2012). Landmarks in tourist wayfinding: a review. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Urban Design and Planning, 165(2), 79-87.
Özgece, N., Edgü, E., & Taluğ, M. (2015). Exploring children’s perceptions and experiences of outdoor spaces. In 10th International Space Syntax Symposium (Vol. 125, pp. 1-15).
Rabbaa, J. A., Morris, A., & Somanath, S. (2019, July). MRsive: An augmented reality tool for enhancing wayfinding and engagement with art in museums. In International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction pp. 535-542
Raubal, M., & Winter, S. (2002, September). Enriching wayfinding instructions with local landmarks. In International conference on geographic information science (pp. 243-259). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.‏
Schwering, A.; Krukar, J.; Li, R.; Anacta, V. & Fuest, S. (2017): Wayfinding Through Orientation, Spatial Cognition & Computation, 17(4), 273-303.
Segal, R. (2015). Playfinding: child-friendly wayfinding as a tool for children’s independent mobility in the Exchange District of Winnipeg, Manitoba (Master's thesis).‏
Sharma, G., Kaushal, Y., Chandra, S., Singh, V., Mittal, A. P., & Dutt, V. (2017). Influence of landmarks on wayfinding and brain connectivity in immersive virtual reality environment. Frontiers in psychology, 8, 12-.
Shia, I, (2006)amade sazi shahr baraye kodakan [Preparing the city for children], Shahr Publishing [in Persian].
Sindokht Rezaei Liapaee, Reza Askarizad2, Fariba Alborzi, (2020) Investigation of Physical Factors Affecting the Wayfinding of Educational Spaces Children aged 7-12 years old in Rasht, North of Iran,   Int J Pediatr 2020; 8(1): 10689-704
Stankiewicz, B. J., & Kalia, A. A. (2007). Acquisition of structural versus object landmark knowledge. Journal of Experimental Psychology-Human Perception and Performance, 33(2), 378-390.
Verghote, A., Al-Haddad, S., Goodrum, P., & Van Emelen, S. (2019). The effects of information format and spatial cognition on individual wayfinding performance. Buildings, 9(2), 29.
Willis, K. S. (2009). Wayfinding situations (Doctoral dissertation, Dissertation, Weimar, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, 2009).
Ziyi Dong,(2018) Gender Difference in Situation Awareness when Receiving Wayfinding Direction by Landmarks and Headings, A Thesis Project Florid