Analysing Linear Spatial Relationships: The Measures of Connectivity, Integration, and Choice

In this chapter, we first explain the concept of an axial line and how the axial map is applied in space syntax. We then discuss the static measure of ‘connectivity’ with its ‘one-step’ to ‘n-step’ logic, including its meaning for axial integration analysis. We further present the segment integration analysis. Using the street segment as the...

Established Urban Research Traditions and the Platform for Space Syntax

This chapter provides an overview of established research traditions in the analysis of physical elements of the built environment. Herein, we address the morphological, place phenomenological, and urban network traditions. Following this, a synopsis about spatial elements applied to these traditions, including space syntax, is given....

Space Syntax Applied in Urban Practice

In this chapter, we discuss the application of space syntax in consultancy for urban planning design and practice. First, we present the scientific challenges to tying general understandings and theories to urban planning and design practice. Some elementary principles for communicating results from research and theories to practitioners are...

Theoretical Representations of the Built Environment

In this chapter, we show what and how space syntax has contributed to theories and general knowledge of the built environment. First, we provide an introduction to two established research traditions, positivism and hermeneutics. The aim is to demonstrate through modal logic what the possibilities and limitations are for gaining general...

Empirical Data Collection and Analysis, and Connecting Data with Space Syntax

In previous chapters, we demonstrated various analytic techniques focusing on the spatial aspects of the built environment. In this chapter, we discuss various methods and techniques for collecting qualitative and quantitative data dealing with human behaviour and how to connect such data to the results from various space syntax analyses. This...

Orientation and Wayfinding: Measuring Visibility

In this chapter, we explain how the analytical logic of space syntax is applied for visibility analysis. In the previous chapter, the focus was on presenting all public spaces as axial sightlines. The individual axial line is a one-dimensional (1D) representation of public space and is useful for analysing the interrelationship of public spaces...

Private and Public Space: Analysing Spatial Relationships Between Buildings and Streets

In this chapter, we discuss and demonstrate how to analyse the urban micro-spatial relationships between private and public spaces. These methods allow one to analyse intervisibility between buildings andstreets, entrance density from buildings towards streets, street constitutedness, and the topological depth between private and public spaces....

Applied Mathematics on Urban Space

The aim of this chapter is to explain what Space Syntax is. Firstly, the types of spatial elements used in Space Syntax is discussed, secondly, the various mathematical formulas of various space syntax methods are elaborated, and finally Space Syntax’ contribution to theory building on built environments are discussed.<br/>

The materialisation of Jane Jacob's view "eyes on streets": Quantitative tools to measure adjacency, permeability and inter-visibility between buildings and streets

One of Jane Jacob’s key observations was that we need “eyes on the streets” from buildings to ensure safety. How can it be quantified? Research on urban environment by means of space syntax methods tend to focus on macro scale spatial conditions. However, micro scale conditions should not be neglected. In research on dispersal of burglaries in...

Spatial tools for diagnosing the degree of safety and liveability, and to regenerate urban areas in The Netherlands

This contribution describes the tool Social Safe Urban Design (SSUD), seen<br/>together with socio-spatial and linguistic challenges when applying space syntax in the regenerating of problem urban areas. The Space Syntax jargon is technical and needs to be translated into a language understandable and acceptable to stakeholders who are...