Perception of density by pedestrians on urban paths: an experiment in virtual reality

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a virtual reality experiment in a controlled visualization laboratory. The study explores the impact of morphology on the perceived density by participants along pedestrian paths. The issue addressed is the intensification of existing urban centres, where over-crowding may diminish their viability. The basic hypothesis is that increased visibility in a given urban space will be evaluated with a lower perceived density, and in some cases, a preferred view will decrease the participant’s perceived density. This research can contribute to future research and practice for the planning and design of sustainable urban environments for the benefit of pedestrian users.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Funding

This research was supported by the ISRAEL SCIENCE FOUNDATION [grant number 1485/15].

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Leslie Laufer, Elad Bruchim and Itaman Akiva for their valuable help. The statistical analysis provided by Prof A. Cohen and Dr T. Umansky at the Technion Statistical Lab. is gratefully acknowledged.