Human factors in pedestrian planning
C. Natalie van der Wal (TU Delft - System Engineering, TU Delft - Multi Actor Systems)
Erica Kinkel (TU Delft - Multi Actor Systems, TU Delft - Transport and Planning, TU Delft - Traffic Systems Engineering)
Mark A. Robinson (Leeds University Business School)
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Abstract
The goals of this chapter are to provide: (1) an overview of the various human factors in pedestrian planning research, and (2) an understanding of how these human factors affect pedestrian behaviors relevant for pedestrian planning research. The interdisciplinary field of human factors combines engineering, psychology, and physiology to study the relationship between humans and technology from a system's perspective. Pedestrian planning research is also an interdisciplinary field at the intersection of engineering, transport, architecture, psychology, and sociology. It studies how pedestrians perform in specific contexts – such as at crossings, in travel choices, during wayfinding, and in egress – in both routine and emergency situations. Both fields share a focus on efficiency and safety, and therefore complement each other well. However, despite this, engineers who practice pedestrian planning and design or use technologies that can monitor or interact with pedestrians, do not typically have extensive experience in human factors. Consequently, such pedestrian systems rarely incorporate deep understanding of human behavior, some of which can be counterintuitive. To address these limitations, this chapter first introduces a framework to understand human factors in pedestrian planning research, including the dimensions: (1) observable versus non-observable behaviors, (2) conscious versus unconscious behaviors, (3) physical versus psychological crowds, (4) routine versus emergency situations, and (5) urban versus rural environments. Next, the most common human factors in pedestrian planning research and their influence on operational, tactical, and strategical pedestrian behaviors are considered at three levels: (1) individual, (2) social, and (3) environmental human factors.