Abstract
The northern area of Turin is involved in complex processes of transformation and regeneration articulated in a plurality of functions that support social revitalization and housing policies alongside temporary residential and commercial interventions. A specific district of Turin, Pietra Alta, is presented as an application case of the indicators and graphic codes that the methodological approach of the research is gradually outlining. The results, guided and supported by effective modes of representation, broaden the understanding of the hierarchy and criteria of the needs to move independently on foot and confirm that, given a safe and comfortable environment, people seek utility, a sense of belonging, and pleasantness as additional and distinct needs to enhance their experience of living in the city. Using survey data and assuming relief given by geo-referenced interviews, the proposed work emphasizes the integration of residents' perceptions and objective measures to understand the impact of environmental features on the behavior of neighborhood residents.
TopIntroductory And Methodological Aspects
Walkability is part of a broader research area that examines the connections between land use and transport and in particular how the two can be used to create more liveable communities. Much of the literature on land use/transport focuses on urban design features such as sidewalks, landscape enhancement, availability of public transport and the number of roads that can be used to influence our transport choices. But walking, like any other human behavior, is also largely influenced by cultural factors, circumstances, individual preferences and characteristics, and environmental factors. In recent decades, numerous studies in the field of urban planning and public health have identified key features of the built environment associated with active transport, physical activity and related health outcomes, such as lower rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke. Environments built to support walking, cycling, are predictive of a higher proportion of active mode trips and higher rates of walking or physical activity. Researchers in public health, medicine and urban planning have focused on identifying individual and group characteristics and environmental factors that influence walking as physical activity. Many scholars have addressed the issue of urban quality by considering walkability, i.e. the quality of accessibility considered in relation to pedestrian mobility, as an important requirement.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Walkability: Walkability is a measure of how friendly an area is to walking. Walkability is influenced by many factors, including the quality of paths, pavements or crossings, roads, lighting and accessibility of buildings, and perceptions of safety. Walkability is one of the basic concepts of sustainable urban design.
City Information Modeling or CIM: City Information Modeling is to be understood as a digital representation of the city, focusing on city management, building design, planning, and monitoring. The City Model should be understood as and support for the management of a Smart City infrastructure.
Geographic Information System or GIS: A geographic information system (GIS) is a framework for gathering, managing, and analyzing data. Rooted in the science of geography, GIS integrates many types of data. It analyzes spatial location and organizes layers of information into visualizations using maps and 3D scenes. With this unique capability, GIS reveals deeper insights into data, such as patterns, relationships, and situations—helping users make smarter decisions.
Metrics: Measures of quantitative assessment commonly used for assessing, comparing, and tracking performance or production. Generally, a group of metrics will typically be used to build a dashboard that management or analysts review on a regular basis to maintain performance assessments, opinions, and design strategies.
Geodesign: The term geo can be simply defined as geographic space – space that is referenced to the surface of the earth (geo-referenced). In general, thinking of geographic space brings to mind a 2D geographic space (a flat map) or, for those who are a bit more advanced in their thinking, a 2.5D geographic space – that is, an undulating surface (a relief map). This thinking could also be extended to include 3D geographic space, providing the ability to geo-reference what lies below, on and above the surface of the earth, including what exists inside and outside buildings, as well as 4D geographic space, giving the added ability to geo-reference time-dependent information such as population growth or the migration of a toxic plume through a building. The word design, the second component of geodesign, can be defined as either a noun or a verb. As a noun, design generally refers to some object or other entity. As a verb, it usually refers to a process or series of activities (ESRI, 2018).
Building Information Modeling or BIM: ISO 19650:2019 defines BIM as: Use of a shared digital representation of a built asset to facilitate design, construction, and operation processes to form a reliable basis for decisions.