South Architecture ›› 2022, Vol. 0 ›› Issue (4): 88-98.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-0232.2022.04.012

• Human Settlements • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research Review of the Walkability and Measurement Development of Built Environment

  

  • Online:2022-04-30 Published:2022-04-27
  • Contact: CHEN Zheng

建成环境可步行性研究及测度发展综述

  

  1. 重庆交通大学建筑与城市规划学院;同济大学建筑与城市规划学院
  • 通讯作者: 陈筝
  • 作者简介:1重庆交通大学建筑与城市规划学院,硕士研究生;2同济大学建筑与城市规划学院,硕士研究生;3同济大学建筑与城市规划学院,副教授,通信作者,电子邮箱:zhengchen@tongji.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金资助项目(51878461):基于实景体验计算的城市街道景观风貌精准修补。

Abstract: The influencing factors, measurement indexes and measurement methods of walkability were summarised by reviewing relevant studies to determine its internal meanings and development history and provide references for the measurement of walking environmental qualities in urban areas in China. Literature data in the field of walkability were acquired from the Web of Science (WOS) database and then processed by the document information visual software of CiteSpace. In this way, the literature co-citation network graph is produced. The knowledge evolutionary stage of walkability studies and branch discussion topics were interpreted by identifying key literature of graph and literature clustering characteristics. First, studies on walkability were interpreted from three major research development stages and two branch topics by recognising overall graph characteristics and understanding key literature contents. All three development stages focused on universal influencing factors, measuring methods and specific environmental measurement indexes of walkability environment. They are the main veins of the research field. These three stages are the theoretical framework formation stage (1990~2003), empirical measurement accumulation stage (2003~2010) and empirical systematic summary stage (2010~current). Two branch topics focus on relatively specific topics in content. One topic discusses walkability by orienting to the health demands of teenager groups. The other topic discusses applications of walkability in specific urban practices. Specifically, in the theoretical framework formation stage (1990~2003), early explorations of influencing factors of the walkability environment and corresponding measuring indexes have been made, and a theoretical framework has been formed. In the empirical measurement accumulation stage (2003~2010), measurement indexes and specific measurement indexes were expanded. Several large-scaled ecological empirical studies about the significant influences of environmental factors on walkability have been carried out. In the empirical systematic summary stage (2010~current), many systematic literature reviews have been carried out, and empirical research results were summarised. On this basis, the measurement method and specific measurement indexes of walkability were further expanded. Additionally, environmental influencing factors and corresponding measurement indexes were perfected as the research stage progressed. Indexes were developed from the early concentrated objective and easy-to-quantify spatial morphological factor indexes to further perfect spatial morphological factor indexes and serious concerns on walking space perception and relevant indexes. According to differences in activity levels, environmental influencing factors of walkability can be summarised into two types: 1) microscale (walking space perception levels, such as safety and attraction), with 19 corresponding measuring indexes) and 2) mesoscale (community space morphological levels, such as accessibility of facilities and road connections), with 12 corresponding measuring indexes. Studies on walkability have experienced three development stages, from propositions to systematic summaries, and derive two branch topics. This study enriches urban planning and design theories. Moreover, some mature measuring indexes and measuring methods have been accumulated. Research conclusions can provide references to urban renewal strategies at present and have practical significance to urban walking environmental evaluation and improvement in China.

Key words: walkability, knowledge graph, CiteSpace, physical activity, public space quality, public health

摘要: 提高城市步行环境质量是改善城市空间品质的重要一环。可步行性(Walkablity)是评价城市步行环境质量的一种测度,明确其研究发展脉络和影响因素及相应指标有助于指导城市实践。在此背景下,利用WOS(Web Of Science)数据库获得原始文献三千余篇,借助文献信息可视化软件CiteSpace生成文献共被引网络图谱,形成五个话题聚类。通过精读各聚类重点高被引文献,将五个聚类分为了“发展阶段”和“分支话题”两个维度进行具体讨论,剖析其研究要点。梳理了可步行性研究发展脉络,并对可步行性测度指标及方法进行了总结,能为当下城市更新策略提供借鉴,对我国城市可步行性测度方面具有实际意义。


关键词: 可步行性, 知识图谱, CiteSpace, 体力活动, 公共空间品质, 公共卫生

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