Street Networks and Urban Sustainability by Quantifying Connectivity, Accessibility, and Walkability for Resilient Cities
Downloads
Street networks are crucial in shaping the quality of urban life. Through their impact on mobility and social interaction, they play a critical role in shaping how people move around the city and determine the connectivity, accessibility, safety, and convenience of different areas. Thus, it is essential to develop a systematic understanding of street networks to create livable, sustainable, accessible, and equitable cities. The aim of this study is to analyze and develop the role of street networks in shaping urban mobility, connectivity, and accessibility, and thereby enhance sustainable urban living by creating people-centric cities. Quantitative techniques and measures are employed to examine urban structure metrics to understand both physical and spatial characteristics at micro and macro scales. Three primary parameters for the configuration of street patterns - grid pattern ratio (GPR), pedestrian route directness factor (PRD/PRF), and ped-shed (PS) and effective walking area (EWA) - are selected to compute the formational attributes of selected streets in Baghdad, Iraq. The evaluation employs different arithmetic methods linked with a Geographical Information System (GIS) to quantify and compare two examined areas, and the results reveal a contradiction in the spatial configuration of the sample street patterns. From these findings, the paper offers specific recommendations and urban design guidelines to improve the quality of similar urban areas. The paper concludes that in-depth knowledge of a street’s role in its urban context helps to optimize spatial configuration processes in the built environment.
Downloads
[1] Moudon, A. V. (1997). Urban morphology as an emerging interdisciplinary field. Urban Morphology, 1(1), 3–10. doi:10.51347/jum.v1i1.4047.
[2] Moughtin, C. (2007). Urban Design: Street and Square. Routledge, Milton Park, United Kingdom doi:10.4324/9780080520278.
[3] Marshall, S. (2004). Streets and Patterns. Routledge, Milton Park, United Kingdom doi:10.4324/9780203589397.
[4] Pan, W., & Du, J. (2021). Towards sustainable urban transition: A critical review of strategies and policies of urban village renewal in Shenzhen, China. Land Use Policy, 111, 105744. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105744.
[5] Al-Saaidy, H. J. E. (2024). A dramatic morphological transformation from a spontaneous, organic street pattern to pre-planned-based order: learning from Baghdad city. Urban, Planning and Transport Research, 12(1), 2287569. doi:10.1080/21650020.2023.2287569.
[6] Al-Saaidy, H. J. E. (2025). Issues and Morphological Dialectics of Baghdad City: Toward an Intellectual Framework for a Research Map Design. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 151(1). doi:10.1061/jupddm.upeng-5242.
[7] Alobaydi, D., & Rashid, M. (2024). Morphological Evolution of Baghdad: Analyzing Urban Growth Patterns and Transformation Processes. Journal of Engineering, 30(12), 16–32. doi:10.31026/j.eng.2024.12.02.
[8] Mohammed, L. R., & Alobaydi, D. (2020). Evolution of the Urban Form of Historic Hit Citadel: Deriving a Schematic Model for Iraqi Fortified Cities. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 745(1), 012180. doi:10.1088/1757-899x/745/1/012180.
[9] Mohammed, L. R., & Alobaydi, D. (2020). Studying Sustainable Actions of Syntactic Structures of Historic Hit Citadel: A Morphological Approach. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 881(1). doi:10.1088/1757-899X/881/1/012034.
[10] Al-Saaidy, H. J. E. (2020). Urban Form Elements and Urban Potentiality (Literature Review). Journal of Engineering, 26(9), 65–82. doi:10.31026/j.eng.2020.09.05.
[11] Al-Saaidy, H. J. E. (2020). Urban Morphological Studies (Concepts, Techniques, and Methods). Journal of Engineering, 26(8), 100–111. doi:10.31026/j.eng.2020.08.08.
[12] Farhan, S. L., Alobaydi, D., Anton, D., & Nasar, Z. (2022). Analysing the master plan development and urban heritage of Najaf City in Iraq. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development. doi:10.1108/JCHMSD-07-2020-0101.
[13] Yang, J., Li, X., Du, J., & Cheng, C. (2023). Exploring the Relationship between Urban Street Spatial Patterns and Street Vitality: A Case Study of Guiyang, China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 1646. doi:10.3390/ijerph20021646.
[14] Lv, W., Wang, N., & Huang, Y. (2023). Study on the sustainability of ancient canal towns on the basis of the topological structure analysis of streets and lanes: A case study of the Xixing ancient town. PLOS ONE, 18(1), e0279979. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0279979.
[15] Hillier, B. (1996). Cities as movement economies. Urban Design International, 1(1), 41–60. doi:10.1057/udi.1996.5.
[16] Hillier, B. (2007). Space is the machine: a configurational theory of architecture. Space Syntax, London, United Kingdom.
[17] Ozbil, A., Peponis, J., & Stone, B. (2011). Understanding the link between street connectivity, land use and pedestrian flows. Urban Design International, 16(2), 125–141. doi:10.1057/udi.2011.2.
[18] Hajrasouliha, A., & Yin, L. (2015). The impact of street network connectivity on pedestrian volume. Urban Studies, 52(13), 2483–2497. doi:10.1177/0042098014544763.
[19] Trichês Lucchesi, S., Larranaga, A. M., Bettella Cybis, H. B., Abreu e Silva, J. A. de, & Arellana, J. A. (2021). Are people willing to pay more to live in a walking environment? A multigroup analysis of the impact of walkability on real estate values and their moderation effects in two Global South cities. Research in Transportation Economics, 86, 100976. doi:10.1016/j.retrec.2020.100976.
[20] Yang, S., Chen, X., Wang, L., Wu, T., Fei, T., Xiao, Q., Zhang, G., Ning, Y., & Jia, P. (2021). Walkability indices and childhood obesity: A review of epidemiologic evidence. Obesity Reviews, 22(S1), 13096. doi:10.1111/obr.13096.
[21] Al Hashimi, H., & Alobaydi, D. (2023). Measuring spatial properties of historic urban networks. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2651. doi:10.1063/5.0117077.
[22] Albabely, S., & Alobaydi, D. (2023). Impact of Urban Form on Movement Densities: The Case of Street Networks in AlKarkh, Baghdad, Iraq. ISVS E-Journal, 10(7), 147-163.
[23] Chan, E. T. H., Schwanen, T., & Banister, D. (2021). Towards a multiple-scenario approach for walkability assessment: An empirical application in Shenzhen, China. Sustainable Cities and Society, 71, 102949. doi:10.1016/j.scs.2021.102949.
[24] Krüger, M. J. T. (1980). An approach to built-form connectivity at an urban scale: relationships between built-form connectivity, adjacency measures, and urban spatial structure. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 7(2), 163–194. doi:10.1068/b070163.
[25] Hess, P. M. (1997). Measures of connectivity (Streets: Old Paradigm, New Investment). Places, 11(2), 1-9.
[26] Randall, T. A., & Baetz, B. W. (2001). Evaluating Pedestrian Connectivity for Suburban Sustainability. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 127(1), 1–15. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9488(2001)127:1(1).
[27] Zlatkovic, M., Zlatkovic, S., Sullivan, T., Bjornstad, J., & Kiavash Fayyaz Shahandashti, S. (2019). Assessment of effects of street connectivity on traffic performance and sustainability within communities and neighborhoods through traffic simulation. Sustainable Cities and Society, 46, 101409. doi:10.1016/j.scs.2018.12.037.
[28] Al-Saaidy, H. J. E., & Alobaydi, D. (2021). Studying street centrality and human density in different urban forms in Baghdad, Iraq. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 12(1), 1111–1121. doi:10.1016/j.asej.2020.06.008.
[29] Cervero, R., & Radisch, C. (1996). Travel choices in pedestrian versus automobile oriented neighborhoods. Transport Policy, 3(3), 127–141. doi:10.1016/0967-070X(96)00016-9.
[30] Reilly, M., & Landis, J. (2003). The influence of built-form and land use on mode choice. University of California Transportation Center, Berkeley, United States.
[31] Dill, J. (2004). Measuring network connectivity for bicycling and walking. 83rd annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board, 11-15 January, 2004, Washington, United States.
[32] Kim, J. (2007). Testing the street connectivity of new urbanism projects and their surroundings in Metro Atlanta Region. Proceedings, 6th International Space Syntax Symposium, 12-15 June, 2007, İstanbul, Turkey.
[33] Bourdic, L., Salat, S., & Nowacki, C. (2012). Assessing cities: A new system of cross-scale spatial indicators. Building Research & Information, 40(5), 592–605. doi:10.1080/09613218.2012.703488.
[34] Remali, A. M. (2014). Capturing the essence of the capital city: Urban form and urban life in the city center of Tripoli, Libya. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
[35] Al-Saaidy, H. J. E. (2019). Measuring urban form and urban life four case studies in Baghdad, Iraq. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland.
[36] Handy, S. L. (1997). Urban form and pedestrian choices: Study of Austin neighborhoods. Transportation Research Record, 1996(1552), 135–144. doi:10.1177/0361198196155200119.
[37] Crane, R., & Crepeau, R. (1998). Does neighborhood design influence travel?: A behavioral analysis of travel diary and GIS data. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 3(4), 225–238. doi:10.1016/S1361-9209(98)00001-7.
[38] Matley, T. M., Goldman, L. M., & Fineman, B. J. (2000). Pedestrian travel potential in Northern New Jersey: A metropolitan planning organization’s approach to identifying investment priorities. Transportation Research Record, 2000(1705), 1–8. doi:10.3141/1705-01.
[39] Tal, G., & Handy, S. (2012). Measuring nonmotorized accessibility and connectivity in a robust pedestrian network. Transportation Research Record, 2012(2299), 48–56. doi:10.3141/2299-06.
[40] Dalvi, M. Q. (2021). Behavioural Modelling, Accessibility, Mobility and Need. Behavioural Travel Modelling, Routledge, Milton Park, United Kingdom. doi:10.4324/9781003156055-38.
[41] Ben-Akiva, M., & Lerman, S. R. (2021). Disaggregate Travel and Mobility-Choice Models and Measures of Accessibility. Behavioural Travel Modelling, Milton Park, United Kingdom. doi:10.4324/9781003156055-39.
[42] Alawadi, K., Hong Nguyen, N., Alrubaei, E., & Scoppa, M. (2021). Streets, density, and the superblock: neighborhood planning units and street connectivity in Abu Dhabi. Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, 16(2), 168–195. doi:10.1080/17549175.2021.1944281.
[43] Wang, F., Antipova, A., & Porta, S. (2011). Street centrality and land use intensity in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Journal of Transport Geography, 19(2), 285–293. doi:10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2010.01.004.
[44] Porta, S., Strano, E., Iacoviello, V., Messora, R., Latora, V., Cardillo, A., Wang, F., & Scellato, S. (2009). Street centrality and densities of retail and services in Bologna, Italy. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 36(3), 450–465. doi:10.1068/b34098.
[45] J.E. Al-Saaidy, H. (2020). Lessons from Baghdad City Conformation and Essence. Sustainability in Urban Planning and Design, IntechOpen Limited, London, United Kingdom. doi:10.5772/intechopen.88599.
[46] Thwaites, K., Mathers, A., & Simkins, I. (2013). Socially Restorative Urbanism. Routledge, London, United Kingdom. doi:10.4324/9780203467497.
[47] Carmona, M. (2021). Public Places Urban Spaces. Routledge, London, United Kingdom. doi:10.4324/9781315158457.
[48] Khder, H. M., Mousavi, S. M., & Khan, T. H. (2016). Impact of Street’s Physical Elements on Walkability: A Case of Mawlawi Street in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability, 3(1), 18–26. doi:10.11113/ijbes.v3.n1.106.
[49] Massingue, S. A., & Oviedo, D. (2021). Walkability and the Right to the city: A snapshot critique of pedestrian space in Maputo, Mozambique. Research in Transportation Economics, 86, 101049. doi:10.1016/j.retrec.2021.101049.
[50] Shields, R., Gomes da Silva, E. J., Lima e Lima, T., & Osorio, N. (2021). Walkability: a review of trends. Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, 16(1), 19–41. doi:10.1080/17549175.2021.1936601.
[51] Al-Hasani, M. K. (2012). Urban space transformation in old city of Baghdad–integration and management. Megaron, 7, 79.
[52] Alobaydi, D., & Rashid, M. (2017). A Study of the Morphological Evolution of the Urban Cores of Baghdad in the 19th and 20th Century. 11th international space syntax symposium at Instituto superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
[53] Alsaffar, N. H., & Alobaydi, D. (2023). Studying street configurations and land-uses in the downtown of Baghdad. 8th Engineering and 2nd International Conference for College ff Engineering – University ff Baghdad: COEC8-2021 Proceedings. doi:10.1063/5.0105420.
[54] Rashid, M., & Alobaydi, D. (2015). Territory, politics of power, and physical spatial networks: The case of Baghdad, Iraq. Habitat International, 50, 180–194. doi:10.1016/j.habitatint.2015.08.031.
[55] Sommer, B. B., & Sommer, R. (1997). A practical guide to behavioral research: Tools and techniques. Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom.
[56] Yin, R. (2014). Case Study Research: Design and Methods (5th ed.). Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, United States.
[57] Aultman-Hall, L., Roorda, M., & Baetz, B. W. (1997). Using GIS for Evaluation of Neighborhood Pedestrian Accessibility. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 123(1), 10–17. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9488(1997)123:1(10).
[58] Mehaffy, M., Porta, S., Rofè, Y., & Salingaros, N. (2010). Urban nuclei and the geometry of streets: The “emergent neighborhoods” model. Urban Design International, 15(1), 22–46. doi:10.1057/udi.2009.26.
[59] Rogers, A., & Vertovec, S. (Eds.). (2020). The urban context: ethnicity, social networks and situational analysis. Routledge, London, United Kingdom. doi:10.4324/9781003134930.
[60] G.I.S. Department (2016). The traditional area of Baghdad based on Polservice, Geokart, Poland, rectified by Department Of GIS, in Department of Geographic Information System GIS, Mayoralty of Baghdad. University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq.
[61] R.S.GIS.U. (2017). The Georeferencing Aerial Imagery. The Official Letter, No.: 1578, Date: 01/11/2017: Remote Sensing and GIS Unit, Building and Construction Engineering Department, University of Technology, Baghdad. Iraq.
[62] Boarnet, M., & Crane, R. (2001). The influence of land use on travel behavior: Specification and estimation strategies. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 35(9), 823–845. doi:10.1016/S0965-8564(00)00019-7.
[63] Greenwald, M. J., & Boarnet, M. G. (2001). Built environment as determinant of walking behavior: Analyzing nonwork pedestrian travel in Portland, Oregon. Transportation Research Record, 2001(1780), 33–42. doi:10.3141/1780-05.
[64] Porta, S., & Romice, O. (2010). Analysis brief: Comparative analysis of urban Fabrics. MSc. Thesis, Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Scotland.
[65] Sun, G., Lin, H., & Li, R. (2012). Measuring the Influence of Built Environment on Walking Behavior: An Accessibility Approach. Geographic Information Science, 187–197. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-33024-7_14.
[66] Moudon, A. V., Hess, P. M., Snyder, M. C., & Stanilov, K. (1997). Effects of Site Design on Pedestrian Travel in Mixed-Use, Medium-Density Environments. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 1578(1), 48–55. doi:10.3141/1578-07.
[67] Crane, R. (1996). On form versus function: Will the new urbanism reduce traffic, or increase it? Journal of Planning Education and Research, 15(2), 117–126. doi:10.1177/0739456X9601500204.
[68] Ballou, R. H., Rahardja, H., & Sakai, N. (2002). Selected country circuity factors for road travel distance estimation. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 36(9), 843–848. doi:10.1016/S0965-8564(01)00044-1.
[69] Levinson, D., & El-Geneidy, A. (2009). The minimum circuity frontier and the journey to work. Regional Science and Urban Economics, 39(6), 732–738. doi:10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2009.07.003.
[70] Huang, J., & Levinson, D. M. (2015). Circuity in urban transit networks. Journal of Transport Geography, 48, 145–153. doi:10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2015.09.004.
[71] Hess, P. M., Moudon, A. V., Snyder, M. C., & Stanilov, K. (1999). Site design and pedestrian travel. Transportation Research Record, 1999(1674), 9–19. doi:10.3141/1674-02.
[72] WAPC. (2000). Liveable Neighbourhoods: Street Layout, Design and Traffic Management guidelines. Western Australian Planning Commission, Perth, Australia.
[73] WAPC. (2009). Liveable neighbourhoods: a Western Australian government sustainable cities initiative. Western Australian Planning Commission, Perth, Australia.
[74] Jones, E. J. (2001). Liveable Neighbourhoods. World Transport Policy & Practice, 7(2), 38-43.
[75] Porta, S., & Renne, J. L. (2005). Linking urban design to sustainability: Formal indicators of social urban sustainability field research in Perth, Western Australia. Urban Design International, 10(1), 51–64. doi:10.1057/palgrave.udi.9000136.
[76] Tresidder, M. (2005). Using GIS to measure connectivity: An exploration of issues. Ph.D. Thesis, Portland State University, Portland, United States.
[77] Lee, S., & Lee, M. H. (2021). Impact of neighborhood environment on pedestrian route selection among elementary schoolchildren in Korea. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(13), 7049. doi:10.3390/ijerph18137049.
[78] Costa, M., Marques, M., & Moura, F. (2021). A circuity temporal analysis of urban street networks using open data: A Lisbon case study. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 10(7), 453. doi:10.3390/ijgi10070453.
- Authors retain all copyrights. It is noticeable that authors will not be forced to sign any copyright transfer agreements.
- This work (including HTML and PDF Files) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
