Dario Canu

Factors of perceived walkability: A pilot empirical study

We present preliminary results of a pilot empirical study designed to examine factors associated with pedestrians’ perception of walkability, i.e. the perception of the quality, comfort and pleasantness of streets, and their conductivity to walk. Through a contingent field survey we collected 18 observable street attributes (independent variables), and a synthetic subjective perception of walkability (dependent variable), for the entire street network (408 street segments) of the city of Alghero in Italy. Regression analysis yields high goodness of fit (R-squared = 0.60 using all 18 variables), and points at 9 out of 18 as the most significant factors of perceived walkability (“useful sidewalk width”; “architectural, urban and environmental attractions”; “density of shops, bars, services, economic activities”; “vehicles-pedestrians separation”; “cyclability”; “opportunities to sit”; “shelters and shades”; “car roadway width”; “street lighting”; R-squared = 0.59). Among those, the first five factors in particular show as jointly most important as predictors of perceived walkability.

Evaluating the Effect of Urban Intersections on Walkability

This study proposes an analytical and evaluative method of the performances of urban intersections from the perspective of pedestrians. We further present a case study assessment of walkability of crossings and their conduciveness to walk. Implications in integrated urban and transport planning practice are emphasized as the method is suited to support decision makers involved in urban roads management to identify major spatial and operational problems and to prioritize improvement interventions.

Coupling Surveys with GPS Tracking to Explore Tourists’ Spatio-Temporal Behaviour

Position tracking technologies developed in the last decade are a valuable addition to the traditional toolbox for data collection, as they offer the opportunity to gather a great amount of unprecedented information on tourists behaviour. In particular, they allow to collect detailed information on spatial and temporal behaviour with respect to different categories/profiles of tourists. We present the results of a survey of tourists’ spatial behaviour coupling GPS movement tracking and questionnaires, and furthermore discuss how this kind of studies may prove useful in providing guidelines for territorial, tourist and transportation policies.

A Spatial Multi-criteria Analysis Method for the Assessment of Walkability to Guide the Design of Interventions in Urban Crossings

In last decades, we assist to a constant, growing attention on urban walkability. Despite copious studies analyse the components of pedestrian spaces, little attention is given to road intersections, elements of interruption and obstacle of the walking paths. This study proposes a multi-criteria spatial analysis method of road intersections aimed to classify and prioritise actions for the implementation of pedestrian-oriented mobility policies. The method reveals the spatial elements to improve for enhancing walkability. An application to the city of Alghero revealed safety and comfort as the main factors that limit the propensity to walk and therefore need to be tackled through specific policies and interventions.

Using Citizen-Provided Information to Build Purposeful Knowledge for Planning: Principles, Requirements, and Three Examples

We present three tools as examples of how information and contributions collected from citizens through online services may be meaningfully employed in evaluation and decision-support tools for planning. The whole idea of using “citizens as sensors” has seen remarkable advancements with the advent of the Web 2.0 and mobile technologies. Yet many tools lack explicit, transparent and publicly accessible evaluation models useful for guiding decisions, for prioritising issues, and for assigning resources by the municipal government. We argue that such evaluation models are necessary for the principles of publicity, accountability and equity to be observed by the public authority. The three tools we present here are attempts, in three different fields, to show how this lack may be overcome. The tools (one for urban maintenance, one for evaluation of walkability and one for energy management) are intended to enhance public authority’s capabilities to use “social energies”, to make their actions more efficient, fair and accountable, giving citizen control and oversight of the allocation of resource.

Online Citizen Reporting on Urban Maintenance: A Collection, Evaluation and Decision Support System

We present an online support system for urban maintenance which: 1. lets citizens directly report neighbourhood issues which may require attention from the urban maintenance services: 2. evaluates the priority of reported issues; 3. allows the allocation and management of resources and workforce on solving issues and 4. permits public tracking of their status. The web application was entirely developed using low-cost Google cloud services, with the advantage of low deployment and hosting costs and practically no systems administration costs, a highly replicable and transferrable solution, and a rapid development process relying on robust Google services. The model for evaluating priority of reported issues is based on the the ELECTRE TRI rating method. In the paper we present the systems standard workflow, the evaluation model and the implementation details. We also discuss its possible more general implications for fostering and supporting citizens participation. Unlike many existing platforms for citizens reporting of maintenance issues, our system incorporates an explicit and publicly accessible evaluation model to prioritise issues and assign resources for their solution. This, we argue, is a crucial prerequisite for the principles of transparency, publicity, accountability and equity be observed by municipal governments.

A Web-Based Participatory Management and Evaluation Support System for Urban Maintenance

The participatory support system for urban maintenance we present here: (1) lets citizens directly report neighbourhood issues requiring attention from urban maintenance services, (2) evaluates the priority of reported issues, (3) allows the allocation and management of resources and workforce on solving issues and (4) permits public tracking of their status. Unlike many existing platforms for collecting citizens reports, our system incorporates an explicit, transparent and publicly accessible evaluation model to prioritise issues and assign resources for their solution. This, we argue, is a crucial element to assure that the principles of transparency, publicity, accountability and equity are observed by the municipal government. After presenting the system’s standard workflow, the evaluation model and an example application, we discuss its possible more general implications for citizen participation.