Analytical Study of University Campuses’ Walkability using Space Syntax Analysis: University of Duhok (UoD) as a Case Study

Abstract

Human health is an essential issue for many decays; Walking is one of the human activities that showed optimistic results to human health and fitness, “A healthy mind is in a healthy body”. University’s students as a small community, they have to be healthy and creative for the city's future. The university as a small city as such consider healthy and should be environmentally friendly when it been designed responsively for sustainable criteria and human respects. Where Students, staff needs for safety and comfort must considered in their work environment. University of Duhok (UoD) as a fresh university that have a lot of transportation problems, especially at break time and at peak hours. One of these main problems are car-oriented transport mode more than Walking- oriented and lack of smart well-planned transport system. Thus, the research will be tackling those issues, by claiming and utilization the theory of Space syntax and its principles of analyzing human actions within the space. While using two comparative analytical tools, GIS and DepthmapX, Axial Analysis directed to explore the potentials of the network system of the campus as an indicator of pedestrian satisfaction of walkability. The investigating of student walkability projected through visual observation, streets graphic documentations, a digital simulation of possible pedestrian paths through graphical analysis of site elements and components in addition to Spaces syntax application and indexes. This research aimed to educate the community and stockholders on the possibility of promoting walkability and suggesting better allocation of university buildings due to their importance in university campuses.