Platform Grant: Space, Technologies and the Design of the Built Environment
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Bartlett Sch of Graduate Studies
Abstract
Radical urban agglomeration is both driving and responding to the needs of knowledge based and technologically driven organisations, forms of production and exchange. These changes are evident also at the organisational and individual building scale, and demand urgent attention if we are properly to accommodate the needs of future building users and clients. At the same time these new organisational forms and technologies afford radically new ways of working, business models and modes of service delivery. The architectural and engineering design and construction industries are subject to just as much change in the nature of their businesses, but they also lead the way in providing the built environments for all other sectors. This is an area of extremely rapid change and innovation in which the Space Platform Group at the Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, UCL, specialises. It received its Platform Award in 2001, renewed in 2004. Since renewal the group has made a number of key advances both in its science and organisation. It has gained over 10.5m in new funding, additionally its industry and community funded work has grown from 750k to 1.7m pa. Penn has received a personal chair and appointed to Chair the Architecture & Built Environment Sub-panel for RAE2008. It has been awarded a prestigious RCUK Fellowship (Hanna) and has appointed a new lecturer (Conroy Dalton). The group's formula of close coupling fundamental research, applications research on live industry and community projects through our company, doctoral and masters training, and a thriving international network of researchers using our methodology and software, has been added to by the very substantial UrbanBuzz knowledge exchange programme. Vaughan's work on poverty, ethnicity and suburbs has led to her shortlisting for new Centre funding under the Challenging Engineering programme. International collaboration with China is growing very fast. Platform funding has been crucial in driving us to innovate and in providing the flexibility to be adventurous. This has been reflected in growth and a considerable extension to the range of our activities. In the next phase we propose to set knowledge exchange and our international activities on a firm basis, and to develop a strategic programme of fundamental research aimed at Multi-scale Urban Spatial Systems, Building Design for a Digital Era and adaptive Architecture and Fabrication. Platform funding underpins this vital area of strategic research.
Publications
Sailer, K.
(2010)
Towards an Architectural Theory of Space and Organisations: Cognitive, Affective and Conative Relations in Workplaces
in 2nd Workshop on Architecture and Social Architecture, EIASM
Sailer, K.
(2012)
The Generative Office Building
in Proceedings of the 8th International Space Syntax Symposium
Sailer, K.
(2010)
Pre and Post Occupancy Evaluations in Workplace Environments
in The Journal of Space Syntax
Varoudis T.
Does spatial representation matter? Comparing graph and cognitive shortest paths
in 10th Space Syntax Symposium
Varoudis T.
(2013)
Space Syntax Angular Betweenness Centrality Revisited
in 2013 International Space Syntax Symposium
Varoudis T.
Navigation mesh traversal and VGA: Exploiting video game techniques combined with visual graph analysis to achieve realistic agent movement
in 10th Space Syntax Symposium
Varoudis T.
(2014)
Augmented Visibility Graph Analysis - Mixed-directionality graphs for analyzing architectural space
in Fusion - Proceedings of the 32nd eCAADe Conference
| Description | The research has advanced the field of spatial analysis of urban and built form through a wide range of studies and analytic methods. In particular we have take the Depthmap software suite open source and this is now freely downloadable by the international research community using Space Syntax techniques for urban and building analysis and design optimisation. Researchers now work in over 120 countries globally with significant new communities expanding in China which hosts an annual conference devoted to this research attended by over 300 delegates. |
| Exploitation Route | The relationship between the Space Laboratory in UCL and SSLtd has been very productive during the course of the research. Tools and analytical methods developed in the lab have been transferred to the company and been tested against data provided by live projects. These live projects give rise to questions that challenge theory, regularly testing theory by finding anomalies that need to be accounted for. This then drives innovation in both theory and method. All the while the applications are those that clients are prepared to pay and provide data for since they matter to their business, while EPSRC's Platform Grant has supported the academic space syntax research and development/dissemination of new tools at Space Syntax Laboratory. This collaboration has been particularly fruitful in the case of large-scale spatial network modelling on a city-wide or regional scale. Space Syntax Limited has used UCL's research to enhance its consultancy output on the Strategic, sub-regioal and Structural pLans of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. This is a massive planning project that has been led by Aecom and has benefited significantly form the EPSRC funded UCL research. In return the project has produced data, technical advances, methodological development and further research questions. Another major collaboration between the company and UCL, funded by the Platform Grant and the company's in-kind contribution, was the creation of an Online Training Platform (OTP), which will be used widely for teaching and training students and professional on the principles, techniques and software of space syntax. The OPT is expected to generate a great impact on using evidence-based and analytical methods internationally. The company has also been an active contributor to the testing and debugging of the new software, such as the Space Syntax Toolkit and DepthmapX. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Construction,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Energy,Environment,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Retail,Transport |
| Description | The research has been used to inform design, urban planning and policy through numerous interactions with UK and international business, as well as input to the GLA (for example 'Smart Cities Board'). A main pathway to impact is provided via Space Syntax Limited, a UCL spinout which has used these technologies in its UK and international consulting activity. The open source deployment of software has now led to move 40,000 downloads globally, and although this is hard to trace academic impact is increasing. In 2019 I was appointed as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, (renamed in 2021 to Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities). The research has been instrumental in helping develop departmental policy with regard local growth and disparities related to the levelling up agenda. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Construction,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Retail,Transport |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Knowledge Transfer Partnership 'Action-driven design' |
| Amount | £77,140 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | KTP 9742 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2014 |
| End | 01/2017 |
| Description | Knowledge Transfer Partnership 'Big Data in the Office' |
| Amount | £93,970 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | KTP 8978 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2012 |
| End | 02/2015 |
| Title | Automated verification of the space syntax axial model |
| Description | The "Space Syntax Toolkit" for QGIS includes a module that carries out the automated verification of the space syntax axial model, checking for geometric and topological problems and supporting the researcher in correcting them. The axial verification has been part of general space syntax research methods and guidance, however this functionality has not been implemented in any space syntax software to date. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | It is a bit too early for imp aces, but the methodology has already started impacting the way people generate and check their large spatial network models, by reducing the time spend on creating and checking the model.f The future impact expected form this method is to used by the community to produce all spatial network models and reduce the time spent on creating the models significantly. |
| Title | Distributed Building Information System |
| Description | A new theoretical and technological framework for the development of a distributed model for a holistic Building Information System. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | It integrates versioning and revision control models from software engineering and establishes parallels between the distributed revision control process and the building design process and argues that the underlying structure of Building Information Modelling can be exploited for the development of a similar structure for building design. The fundamental framework of such a system, called Distributed Building Information System (DBIS), is described and implementation strategies are discussed, while the potential difficulties are also addressed. |
| Title | Space Syntax Online Training Platform |
| Description | The Space Syntax Online Training Platform (OTP) provides a unified training resources for the dissemination of space syntax theory, methodologies, software, and publications in the form of a custom designed website accessed via the world wide web. Materials include a concise overview of the space syntax theory and methodology, glossary, references, software, manuals, videos and case studies application. The creation of the OTP was made possible by UCL funding provided by the Platform Grant and SSLtd's contribution in kind. The OTP will was constructed on open access principles such that materials will be freely available to users, subject to prevailing copyright and licensing arrangements. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This platform has already been used in teaching space syntax in the UK and abroad. The initial feedback are very positive, indicating that the OPT has facilitated the process of self learning and training in this filed. It is expected that the OPT will be used widely in future on an international scale. |
| URL | http://otp.spacesyntax.net/ |
| Title | An integrated spatial database of spatial network and socio-economic data for the entire UK in GIS format |
| Description | The research activities entailed the gathering, organization and exploration of a series of geographical datasets provided by UK's official sources, albeit not necessarily homogenous or formatted for research needs. Therefore, an integrated spatial database of socio-economic data was constructed in GIS, including data on population density, multi-deprivation index values, income estimates and employment densities, represented at the lowest geographical level at which census estimates are provided (i.e. the Output Area level). The research was carried out on a model of the complete UK road network constructed for the purposes of this research, taking for basis the Meridian 2 dataset (provided by Ordnance Survey). |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | this data base is a very rich source that could be used in further research on large scale models for the UK and other countries. the immediate impact would be about facilitating evidence-based research on very large-scale system and impact on planning and decision making associated with that scale. |
| Title | Space Syntax Laboratory Buildings Database |
| Description | The Space Syntax Laboratory at the Bartlett, UCL has produced a pilot Research Repository, which is a database for research on buildings, using building information and empirical data of human behaviour produced by the group and their students since 2000. All existing information produced during those years will be placed in an electronic database, containing basic information on research projects, floor plans and Space Syntax graph files (where available) as well as any additional supporting data. The database aims at making it easier for students and researchers to share and reuse data from other researchers, and therefore to create and build upon previous knowledge within the legal framework of copyright legislation. At present we wish to give current students from the MSc Spatial Design: Architecture and Cities and researchers from the Space Syntax Laboratory access for research and educational purposes, yet we also want to make this available to the wider Space Syntax research community and our Alumni in the future via a password protected online repository. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The database comprises 197 research projects, undertaken by staff and students of the Space Syntax Laboratory at UCL over the last 15 years, analyzing 386 different buildings (houses, schools, hospitals, museums, galleries, stations, libraries, offices, shopping centres, public, cultural and religious buildings etc). It systematically provides access to general information on each project, for instance on the focus of the research, the particular cases studied and the methodology used. Where available it links this information to specific outputs and available reports online or in hard copy. The database also contains original data of a sub-sample of 118 of the projects, such as floor plans of the buildings (in CAD), but also (where available) specialized analysis files, for instance Space Syntax graphs. Researchers were asked to sign 'Creative Commons' copyright agreements to signify their willingness to share their data. This database provides a unique resource to staff and students of the Space Syntax Laboratory (and possibly in the future to the wider worldwide research community of Space Syntax), since it offers easy access to previous research and allows the generation of a new type of research question that reaches across individual buildings and across various building types. Floor plans of buildings, for instance, are normally difficult to access and provide a wealth of spatial and configurational information, that can be exploited in future research projects. The database thus not only offers an institutional memory of the wealth and breadth of research completed at the Space Syntax Laboratory at UCL, it also points towards innovative future research opportunities. |
| Title | The use of unsupervised exploratory statistical methods in the structural exploration of very large spatial networks and correlations with massive socio-economic and functional phenomena |
| Description | The task of structural exploration of very large spatial networks, and the crossing of its results with massive geographical datasets describing the spatial manifestations of socio-economic and functional phenomena, are data intensive tasks which cannot be addressed by common analytical procedures. In order to extract the full descriptive potential enclosed in the high-dimensionality data resulting from the analysis of nation-wide spatial networks, the use of unsupervised exploratory statistical methods becomes necessary. Likewise, the translation into useful information of socio-economic and functional geographical data, and the use of that information for studying the impact of particular network structures on observed patterns of territorial functioning and occupation, demands the adoption of similar techniques coupled with GIS processing and analysis capabilities. The work funded by the Platform Grant was dedicated to the development and operationalization of analytical tools for studying very large spatial networks, for mining big geographical data, and for relating network structural information with observed socio-economic and functional spatial patterns. The objective was to ascertain if the impact of spatial network structure on functional and socio-economic phenomena, which previously space syntax research has shown to exist and to be highly relevant at the city level, was also observable at the regional and national levels. The work shows that vehicular movement flows at the entire national scale (as described by data provided by the Department for Transport) were directly and strongly correlated with network centrality metrics; that the structural properties of regional and national spatial networks were capable of explaining observed spatial distributions of socio-economic phenomena, regarding both poverty and affluence (as described by the index of multiple-deprivation and by income estimates, provided by the Office for National Statistics); and that the spatial distribution of economic activities and employment densities (as described by data at the workplace zone level, provided by the Office for National Statistics) were also clearly related to spatial network structural properties. All these findings were observed at the level of the entire UK mainland and their validity was checked against population density data, which has showed to be always less statistically discriminant than network structural information. |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This methodology is expected to be used efficiently by national and regional authorities in the evaluation and decision making process on large scale planning and transport project on a regional or national level. The methodology could be also used in other countries, provided that sufficient research is undertaken before the application of the method. |
| Description | Collaboration with TU Delft and a consortium of other international industry and government partners to produce a Horizon 2020 research application bid called, Bipedalism (confidential) |
| Organisation | Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Space Syntax Laboratory is member of consortium led by TU Delft with other international industry, including Space Synta Limited, UK, and government partners, in a Horizon 2020 research project bid called Bipedalism (confidential). Stage 1 appraisal was successful and currently waiting for results of Stage 2, after submission of the complete research proposal at the end of August 2014. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Space Syntax Laboratory, representing UCL, was involved in developing the project's overall concept and objective, preparation of the work package description and work plan, and supporting the preparation of the overall research proposal. Space Syntax Laboratory will lead one the main work packages and is heavily involved in all other work packages. The UCL share of the research funding, should it be granted will be in excess of £500,000 for the duration of three years. |
| Impact | - Horizon 2020 research bid Stage 1 - Horizon 2020 research bid Stage 2 - ongoing collaboration to generate other research collaboration opportunities |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Collaboration with TU Delft and a consortium of other international industry and government partners to produce a Horizon 2020 research application bid called, Bipedalism (confidential) |
| Organisation | Space Syntax |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The Space Syntax Laboratory is member of consortium led by TU Delft with other international industry, including Space Synta Limited, UK, and government partners, in a Horizon 2020 research project bid called Bipedalism (confidential). Stage 1 appraisal was successful and currently waiting for results of Stage 2, after submission of the complete research proposal at the end of August 2014. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Space Syntax Laboratory, representing UCL, was involved in developing the project's overall concept and objective, preparation of the work package description and work plan, and supporting the preparation of the overall research proposal. Space Syntax Laboratory will lead one the main work packages and is heavily involved in all other work packages. The UCL share of the research funding, should it be granted will be in excess of £500,000 for the duration of three years. |
| Impact | - Horizon 2020 research bid Stage 1 - Horizon 2020 research bid Stage 2 - ongoing collaboration to generate other research collaboration opportunities |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Communication Patterns in Outpatient Clinics |
| Organisation | Providence Healthcare |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The project compared communication patterns and spatial configuration of five outpatient clinics in two different hospitals, one in Canada and the other one in the Netherlands. Our contribution was the overall project management, the spatial analysis of the hospital buildings, a social network analysis of communication patterns of caregivers and the interpretation of results. We also prepared the final project report and disseminated findings in conferences. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners organised access to floor plans, interviewed caregivers and administrative staff of the hospitals to understand care processes and organisational cultures, provided photographic records of the two hospitals, interpreted the results and participated in conferences to disseminate findings. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration involving the following disciplines: Architecture Social Sciences Clinical planning Medicine Sailer, K; Pachilova, R; Kostopoulou, E; Pradinuk, R; MacKinnon, D; Hoofwijk, T; (2013) How Strongly Programmed is a Strong Programme Building? A Comparative Analysis of Outpatient Clinics in Two Hospitals. In: Ook Kim, Y and Tae Park, H and Wook Seo, K, (eds.) Proceedings of the 9th International Space Syntax Symposium. Sejong University Press: Seoul, South Korea. Pachilova, R., & Sailer, K. (2014). Evidence-Based Design: The Effect of Hospital Layouts on the Caregiver-Patient Interfaces. Proceedings of the Second European Conference on Design 4 Health 2013, 3 - 5 July 2013, Sheffield UK, 2, 174-184. Sheffield: Lab4Living, Art & Design Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Communication Patterns in Outpatient Clinics |
| Organisation | Stantec |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The project compared communication patterns and spatial configuration of five outpatient clinics in two different hospitals, one in Canada and the other one in the Netherlands. Our contribution was the overall project management, the spatial analysis of the hospital buildings, a social network analysis of communication patterns of caregivers and the interpretation of results. We also prepared the final project report and disseminated findings in conferences. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners organised access to floor plans, interviewed caregivers and administrative staff of the hospitals to understand care processes and organisational cultures, provided photographic records of the two hospitals, interpreted the results and participated in conferences to disseminate findings. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration involving the following disciplines: Architecture Social Sciences Clinical planning Medicine Sailer, K; Pachilova, R; Kostopoulou, E; Pradinuk, R; MacKinnon, D; Hoofwijk, T; (2013) How Strongly Programmed is a Strong Programme Building? A Comparative Analysis of Outpatient Clinics in Two Hospitals. In: Ook Kim, Y and Tae Park, H and Wook Seo, K, (eds.) Proceedings of the 9th International Space Syntax Symposium. Sejong University Press: Seoul, South Korea. Pachilova, R., & Sailer, K. (2014). Evidence-Based Design: The Effect of Hospital Layouts on the Caregiver-Patient Interfaces. Proceedings of the Second European Conference on Design 4 Health 2013, 3 - 5 July 2013, Sheffield UK, 2, 174-184. Sheffield: Lab4Living, Art & Design Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | The Space Syntax Online Training Platform (OTP) |
| Organisation | Space Syntax |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The Space Syntax Online Training Platform (OTP) provides a unified training resources for the dissemination of space syntax theory, methodologies, software, and publications in the form of a custom designed website accessed via the world wide web. Materials include a concise overview of the space syntax theory and methodology, glossary, references, software, manuals, videos and case studies application. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The creation of the OTP was made possible by UCL funding provided by the Platform Grant and SSLtd's contribution in kind. The role of SSLtd was to bring their practical and professional experience of using space syntax methodology into the OTP. They have put a lot of hours to provide material, help writing new parts, revising and testing the OTP. |
| Impact | Generating more interest in using the methodology on an international Further interest in receiving training by UCL Encouraging students to take post graduate courses in this field Enabling other research groups to use space syntax methodology in their research |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Title | Space Syntax Open-Source Community |
| Description | Open Source Community of Space Syntax. Users and developers are united around UCL's Space Syntax Laboratory Github and the two mailing list. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2012 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | https://github.com/SpaceGroupUCL https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=DEPTHMAP |
| Title | Three-dimensional VGA Scripts and Visualisation |
| Description | The theoretical and methodological framework and a number of software tools were developed in order to produce the first three-dimensional Visibility Graph Analysis. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Impact | During the research different tools for a number of platforms (Python, C# plugins and R statistical modelling, Rhino/Grasshopper plugins) were developed in order to generate and visualise the results of this new Space Syntax analysis method. The results were published on the Journal of Space Syntax, describing a 3D VGA analysis research based on 'cube-like' encoded space that can be seen as both a small scale building analysis but also an urban scale setting. This theoretical "cube-like" structure is chosen in order to reassemble attributes of real settings. |
| Title | depthmapX: Open-Source Multi-Platform Spatial Network Analysis Software |
| Description | depthmapX is a multi-platform software platform to perform a set of spatial network analyses designed to understand social processes within the built environment. It works at a variety of scales from building through small urban to whole cities or states. At each scale, the aim of the software is to produce a map of open space elements, connect them via some relationship (for example, intervisibility or overlap) and then perform graph analysis of the resulting network. The objective of the analysis is to derive variables which may have social or experiential significance. depthmapX Multi-Platform Spatial Network Analysis Software View the Project on GitHub varoudis/depthmapX Download ZIP File Download TAR Ball View On GitHub Agent based modelling in depthmapX Exosomatic visual agents running on depthmapX. Get the latest MacOSX and Windows version HERE! depthmapX is a multi-platform software platform to perform a set of spatial network analyses designed to understand social processes within the built environment. It works at a variety of scales from building through small urban to whole cities or states. At each scale, the aim of the software is to produce a map of open space elements, connect them via some relationship (for example, intervisibility or overlap) and then perform graph analysis of the resulting network. The objective of the analysis is to derive variables which may have social or experiential significance. Download the source code $ cd your_code_folder/ $ git clone git://github.com/varoudis/depthmapX.git If you're using MacOSX or Windows you can also use GitHub for Mac or GitHub for Windows. depthmapX is using Qt 4 so you need to also download and install Qt libraries 4.8.X and Qt Creator for your operating systems if you want to compile your own version of depthmapX! Official pre-compiled versions For the less adventurous, download the latest compiled version and 'unzip' it, then just double-click ... (after version 0.27, Windows and MacOSX users don't need to install any additional libraries) Betweenness Centrality - Segment Analysis Betweenness Centrality analysis on road central line network - Segment Analysis on depthmapX Visibility Graph Analysis on depthmapX Preparation for Visibility Graph Analysis on depthmapX Support or Contact Having trouble with depthmapX? Check out the depthmapX mailing list on: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/DEPTHMAP.html Tasos Varoudis, dont spam: varoudis |that weird email symbol| archtech |dot| gr Tutorials (from older versions but very useful) Many features are covered in this tutorial by Joao Pinelo. You may also find tutorials for 7.12.00 and 8.15.00 useful. Introduction to version 10 (4.0MB) Older tutorials depthmap basics including VGA import geometry and visibility graph analysis (1.1MB) depthmap axial analysis import, generate or hand-draw an axial map, including linking and unlinking lines (1.3MB) depthmap convex analysis hand-draw a convex map, including linking spaces and analysing the map (0.8MB) depthmap data analysis entering observation data, pushing values to layers, showing scatter plots, calculating correlation coefficients and exporting to spreadsheet programs (1.9MB) Advanced depthmap presentation discussion of advanced segment analysis topics in depthmap. Note that "Topomet" is included with depthmap and does not need to be installed separately (1.8MB) Extra Materials - DXF files used in these tutorials are: gallery.dxf barnsbury_centre.dxf barnsbury_axial.dxf Barnsbury original map data copyright (C) Cambridge University Press 1984, reproduced here with kind permission. Original drawings by J Hanson, digitised by A Turner. In addition gallery.zip contains a VGA analysis of gallery.dxf, and example mif/mid files. A Researcher's Handbook Depthmap 4 - A Researcher's Handbook (revision 1) (pdf) Scripting Scripts can be used to create user-defined formulae and simple graph measures. These examples are used in the SalaScript Manual. total_depth.sala Calculate total depth for each node in a VGA, axial or convex map shortest_cycle.sala Calculate the shortest cycle for each node in an axial or convex map More about depthmapX and the theories behind it depthmapX is dedicated to Alasdair Turner. At the building or small urban scale, depthmapX can be used to assess the visual accessibility in a number of ways. It can produce point isovists, that is, polygons representing the visually accessible area from a location, along with measures of those polygons (such as perimeter, area and so on), or it can further join a dense grid of isovists into a visibility graph of intervisible points (with graphs of up to about 1000000 point locations). The visibility graph may then be analysed directly using graph measures, or used as the core of an agent-based analysis. In the agent-based analysis a number of software agents representing pedestrians are released into the environment. Each software agent is able to access the visual accessibility information for its current location from the visibility graph, and this informs its choice of next destination. The numbers of agents passing through gates can be counted, and compared to actual numbers of pedestrians passing through gates. At the small to medium urban scale, depthmapX can be used to derive an 'axial map' of a layout. That is, derive a reduced straight-line network of the open space in an environment. The axial map has been the staple of space syntax research for many years, but the mathematical derivation of it is novel. The automatic derivation allows an objective map for research into city form and function. Once the map has been generated, it may be analysed using graph measures, and the measures may be transferred to gate layers in order to compare with indicators of pedestrian or social behaviour. For larger systems where the derivation algorithm becomes cumbersome, pre-drawn axial maps may be imported. Axial maps may be broken into segment maps, or segment maps, such as road-centre line maps, may be imported directly. These may be analysed using a variety of techniques, such as according to angular separation, road distance, or segment steps. For example, number of shortest angular paths through a segment may be calculated, or the average road distance from each segment to all others may be calculated. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2012 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | The software covers two separate models for spatial analysis; the Space Syntax model and the Agent model. These two models are theoretically different in spite of the fact that they agree on the principal relationship between space and society. They start from different representations, and they diverge at the point of modelling. The agent model represents an emergent process that leads to form aggregate patterns of movement activity. Through its ability to display movement data in relation to aggregate patterns of agents, depthmapX's agents have proven to be an effective tool to simulate natural movement. Space Syntax builds on a synchronic reduction of spatial relationships in the built environment. Mapping this reduction into networks of longest and fewest lines, depthmapX's axial and segment analyses are powerful methods for predicting to-movement and through-movement in cities. On the scale of buildings, spatial analysis using depthmapX can reveal relational structures that convey how social organisations occupy spaces. depthmapX is a platform that brings together these too models to be tested in an analytical approach. It also affords experimental and developer approaches. The current usage of this software has proven to engage different types of academic communities that have a language in common with the notion of space. These communities range between planners, designers, social scientists, anthropologists, crime scientists, geographers, computer scientists and economists. In general terms, all what brings together the social and the spatial. In different contexts, spatial modelling using depthmapX can help forming assumptions about social behaviour in space and model spatial and social relationships. Moreover, depthmapX significance exceeds its common usage as an analytical tool to understand the built environment on different scales and go beyond that to act as a design and decision making support tool. The intelligent usage of software will deploy it in supporting design process with a knowledge-base that is suggested to make designs more responsive towards the real settings of the built environment. In simple terms, depthmapX is increasingly used as a tool for design thinking. By using it efficiently, the software helps on sparing time and cost, particularly on the scale of complex buildings and large scale urban planning. |
| URL | http://varoudis.github.io/depthmapX/ |
| Title | depthmapXnet and Space Syntax Toolkit for QGIS |
| Description | The "Space Syntax Toolkit" is a QGIS plug-in for spatial network and statistical analysis. It provides a front-end for the depthmapX software within QGIS, offering user friendly space syntax analysis workflows in a GIS environment. It is primarily aimed at supporting the standard space syntax methodology, and enhancing its workflows with standard GIS data, analysis and visualisation features. However, the added functionality can be of general benefit to QGIS users by introducing new tools for exploratory spatial data analysis. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | Currently the "Space Syntax Toolkit" consists of two modules: "Graph analysis" and "Attributes explorer". The "Graph analysis" module supports the verification and analysis of the spatial network model. This consists of an axial map layer, representing the urban street network, and an unlinks layer, indicating bridges and tunnels with no level crossing. The module offers a verification tool to check the geometric and topological integrity of each layer, helping correct any problems before running the analysis. The axial and segment analysis is performed in depthmapXnet, via a direct link from QGIS, which receives and prepares the results once the calculations are completed. The "Attributes explorer" module supports the visual and statistical exploration of the analysis results. It provides quick analysis of individual quantitative attributes of a selected layer, mapping the values using simplified symbology settings, displaying essential descriptive statistics, and plotting basic interactive charts (histogram and scatter plot). |
| URL | https://github.com/SpaceGroupUCL/qgisSpaceSyntaxToolkit |
| Description | "Integration of space syntax software and methods with QGIS". Presentation given by Jorge Gil at the QGIS South-East User Group Meeting, 02/04/2014, at Imperial College, London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The presentation introduced the "Space Syntax Toolkit" software project to the QGIS community. The participation in the meeting allowed getting to know the community members, their backgrounds, skills, levels of expertise and motivation. This gave a better understanding of the toolkit's future users and allowed us to assess opportunities for collaboration on the QGIS project. The talk was attended by a large group of academics, researchers, doctoral students and professionals and stimulated future interests in the development of the open source software and possible collaborations. After the talk several comments and suggestions were raised by the community members to enhance the functionalities of the software. It also created a solid base for future users/developers of the open source software. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://ukqgis.wordpress.com/2014/03/07/programme-south-east-qgis-user-group/ |
| Description | "The Space Syntax Toolkit: integrating depthmapX and exploratory spatial analysis workflows in QGIS". Presentation given by Jorge Gil at the UK's Fifth Open Source GIS conference, 03/09/2014, at the University of Nottingham. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The presentation gave an overview of the software in the context of Space Syntax research and teaching, and extended this to the general benefits it brings to QGIS users. The conference enabled the dissemination of the work to the wider UK based Open Source GIS community of academic researchers and industry and government consultants, obtaining direct feedback and suggestions for future development. It also offered an inside perspective on the current trends, concerns, key people and initiatives of the Open Source GIS community. The talk stimulated future interests in the development of the open source software and possible collaborations. After the presentation several comments and suggestions were sent to our research group to be incorporated into the software or to enhance the demonstrated features of the software. It also created a solid base for future users/developers of the open source software. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/osgis/home.aspx |
| Description | 'Analytical and evidence-based methods for the POE: the space syntax approach |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | This lecture was delivered as an open lecture to academics and students at the South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China, 04 November 2014. The talk raised a lot of interests in adopting space syntax research for Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) in China. The expected impact is to enhance collaboration between the Chinese and UK researchers on using space syntax methodology in the POE studies. joint applications for funding and student exchanges have been discussed as possibilities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://202.38.194.245/hgschool/architecture/notices.do?op=show&id=2039&titleId=48&schoolFlagId=19 |
| Description | 'Evidence-based strategic planning and architectural design' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a joint talk with Professor Alan Penn for the Brazilian Institute of Architects (IAB), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The aim of the talk was to stimulate the debate about analytical design among practicing architects and steer the possibility of collaboration on research informed projects. The lecture was very well received and there was a huge interest in knowing more about the approach and the tools. Several professional contacts have been made after this event and the Space Syntax Laboratory has been invited to participate in at least three joint projects. This has also raised the awareness of the methodology in Brazil and enhanced collaboration between the academics and professionals there. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | 'Smart methodologies for Unsmart cities: The power of the spatial networks' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This a keynote speak at 'Smart Infrastructure for the Unsmart City' event held by Urban Land Institute, London, 09 July 2014. The talk generated a lot of interest in a new way of looking at cities and the 'smart city' concept through a process of rigorous and and evidence base analysis of the city. Further interests by professionals and policy makers who are involved in 'smart city' Think Tanks |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://europe.uli.org/event/smart-infrastructure-unsmart-city/ |
| Description | Blog 'Space and Organisation' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Kerstin Sailer runs the blog 'Space and Organisation' to communicate research findings and topics to a wider audience. The blog was initiated in June 2012 and attracts an average of 20 views per day from all over the world, totalling to more than 22,000 views as of November 2014. The blog increases the visibility and accessibility of academic research and resulted in an increase in media requests, speaking engagements and further collaboration opportunities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014 |
| URL | http://spaceandorganisation.wordpress.com/ |
| Description | The Urban Design Group: Mixed Streets Event: The evolution of Suburban Centres |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Lively discussion of how academic research can inform practice Discussion of how space syntax research can help inform practice |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.udg.org.uk/events/london-and-south-east/mixed-streets |
| Description | • "Space syntax analysis with free open source tools: QGIS and DepthmapX". Demonstration session by Jorge Gil at the 9th International Space Syntax Symposium, 02/11/2013, in Seoul. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The session introduced QGIS and its capabilities as an open source GIS platform for spatial analysis, and demonstrated how it can be used in conjunction with DepthmapX to support space syntax analysis, in terms of data preparation, visualisation and analysis of the results. It was an opportunity to introduce the project of integrating and expanding these software platform's capabilities. The session was aimed at those interested in conducting space syntax analysis using GIS and was an opportunity to get feedback and suggestions from the wider space syntax community. The talk was attended by a large group of academics, researchers, doctoral students and professionals. After the presentation several comments and suggestions were sent to our research group to be incorporated ingot the software or to enhance the demonstrated features of the software. It also created a solid base for future users/developers of the open source software. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://sss9.or.kr/program/program.asp |