Publication
Human Sensory Assessment Methods in Urban Planning - a Case Study in Alexandria
Benjamin Bergner; Jan Exner; Martin Memmel; Rania Raslan; Dina Taha; Manar Talal; Peter Zeile
In: Manfred Schrenk; Vasily V. Popovich; Peter Zeile; Pietro Elisei (Hrsg.). Proceedings of REAL CORP 2013. International Conference on Urban Planning, Regional Development and Information Society (REAL CORP-13), Planning Times, May 29-23, Rome, Italy, Pages 407-417, ISBN 978-3-9503110-5-1 , CORP - Competence Center of Urban and Regional Planning, Schwechat, Austria, 5/2013.
Abstract
With the advancement of digital and sensor technologies, architecture as well as planning domains are continuously endeavoring to reach new horizons. Various kinds of sensor networks are producing data, which can be relevant for urban environments. This data can concern a variety of fields such as infrastructure, mobility, or climate. Primarily, data should be gathered to supply people with information about their environment. With the help of this data and information, surrounding impacts, which influence peoples' perception, can be identified. The main problem is the lack of comprehensive methods for measuring how people feel in their cities, and how they react on certain urban impacts. The main interest of urban planning should not be limited to infrastructures, buildings, and spaces, but rather concentrate on the people who use those buildings and spaces. It is therefore necessary to develop new methods for measuring people's feelings in the city with specific indicators and parameters. The presented joint German Egyptian project between the University of Kaiserslautern and Alexandria University aims at exchanging experiences and knowledge in the field of Human Sensory Assessment and its potential use for urban planning. Technologies and methodologies for data collection, analysis, and visualization are part of the research. Within the project, emotional data has been gathered and analyzed for a walk of locals and foreigners on one of the main promenades of Alexandria. The goal is to study if and how different cultural backgrounds might affect the perception of the participants in different urban spaces.