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From Axial to Road-Centre Lines: A New Representation for Space Syntax and a New Model of Route Choice for Transport Network Analysis

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  • Alasdair Turner

    (Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WOE 6BT, England)

Abstract

Axial analysis is one of the fundamental components of space syntax. The space syntax community has suggested that it picks up qualities of configurational relationships between spaces not illuminated by other representations. However, critics have questioned the absolute necessity of axial lines to space syntax, as well as the exact definition of axial lines. Why not another representation? In particular, why not road-centre lines, which are easily available in many countries for use within geographical information systems? Here I propose that a recently introduced method of analysis, angular segment analysis, can marry axial and road-centre line representations, and in doing so reflect a cognitive model of how route choice decisions may be made. I show that angular segment analysis can be applied generally to road-centre line segments or axial segments, through a simple length-weighted normalisation procedure that makes values between the two maps comparable. I make comparative quantitative assessments for a real urban system, not just investigating angular analysis between axial and road-centre line networks, but also including more intuitive measures based on metric (or block) distances between locations. I show that the new angular segment analysis algorithm produces better correlation with observed vehicular flow than both standard axial analysis and metric distance measures. The results imply that there is no reason why space syntax inspired measures cannot be combined with transportation network analysis representations in order to create a new, cognitively coherent, model of movement in the city.

Suggested Citation

  • Alasdair Turner, 2007. "From Axial to Road-Centre Lines: A New Representation for Space Syntax and a New Model of Route Choice for Transport Network Analysis," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 34(3), pages 539-555, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirb:v:34:y:2007:i:3:p:539-555
    DOI: 10.1068/b32067
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    Cited by:

    1. Chehyun Ryu & Youngsang Kwon, 2016. "How Do Mega Projects Alter the City to Be More Sustainable? Spatial Changes Following the Seoul Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project in South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-17, November.
    2. Stephen Marshall & Jorge Gil & Karl Kropf & Martin Tomko & Lucas Figueiredo, 2018. "Street Network Studies: from Networks to Models and their Representations," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 735-749, September.
    3. Yu Ye & Hanting Xie & Jia Fang & Hetao Jiang & De Wang, 2019. "Daily Accessed Street Greenery and Housing Price: Measuring Economic Performance of Human-Scale Streetscapes via New Urban Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-21, March.
    4. Daeyoung Jeong & Yun Eui Choi & Lilan Jin & Jinhyung Chon, 2019. "Impact of Spatial Change on Tourism by Bridge Connections between Islands: A Case Study of Ganghwa County in South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-17, November.
    5. Lebendiger, Yonatan & Lerman, Yoav, 2019. "Applying space syntax for surface rapid transit planning," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 59-72.
    6. Jeong, Sang Kyu & Ban, Yong Un, 2016. "A point-based angular analysis model for identifying attributes of spaces at nodes in street networks," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 450(C), pages 71-84.
    7. Su, Shiliang & Zhou, Hao & Xu, Mengya & Ru, Hu & Wang, Wen & Weng, Min, 2019. "Auditing street walkability and associated social inequalities for planning implications," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 62-76.
    8. Shatu, Farjana & Yigitcanlar, Tan & Bunker, Jonathan, 2019. "Shortest path distance vs. least directional change: Empirical testing of space syntax and geographic theories concerning pedestrian route choice behaviour," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 37-52.
    9. Grimaldi, Didier & Fernandez, Vicenc & Carrasco, Carlos, 2019. "Heuristic for the localization of new shops based on business and social criteria," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 249-257.
    10. Li, Yuan & Xiao, Longzhu & Ye, Yu & Xu, Wangtu & Law, Andrew, 2016. "Understanding tourist space at a historic site through space syntax analysis: The case of Gulangyu, China," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 30-43.
    11. Abhijit Paul, 2014. "A comparative assessment of edge-effect with syntax integration generated in axial and unit-segment approaches to modelling vehicular movement networks," International Journal of Urban Sciences, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(3), pages 340-354, November.
    12. Zhou, Peiling & Grady, Sue C. & Chen, Guo, 2017. "How the built environment affects change in older people's physical activity: A mixed- methods approach using longitudinal health survey data in urban China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 74-84.
    13. Isti Hidayati & Claudia Yamu & Wendy Tan, 2019. "The Emergence of Mobility Inequality in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of Path Dependencies in Transport–Land Use Policies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-18, September.

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