scholarly journals Pedestrian Paths as an Indicator of Legibility Aspects of Omani Traditional Settlements

2021 ◽  
Vol 1203 (3) ◽  
pp. 032018
Author(s):  
Naima Benkari ◽  
Islam Sallam

Abstract The interest for studying the Omani built heritage is not recent. However, the published research about the subject since the early 1970s, is limited in number and sporadic in topics and territories investigated. Moreover, there was no or little interest in examining this built heritage from the point of view of its urban design typologies. This paper is examining the urban form of these settlements and linking it with legibility aspects. Legibility and its influence on users of urban spaces have been significant for many theorists in urban studies. In their point of view, behaviour patterns of pedestrians are strongly influenced by legibility perception of the spatial patterns in urban spaces. The current research aims at studying the legibility aspects of traditional Omani residential settlements in an objective evaluation represented by numerical approach. Through a descriptive and analytical method, the results will link the influence of urban forms with legibility and behaviour patterns of pedestrians, which are deeply affected by the perception of body and mind. The paper explored paths’ forms influence on legibility perception of pedestrian in some of traditional settlements in Oman that have a strong urban identification. Five case studies representing traditional Omani settlements were chosen and analysed with an innovative quantitative approach capable of discovering, evaluating deficiencies, and suggesting solutions to develop local concepts for paths in any of urban settlements. The findings disclose that the contest to adopt international approaches to solve local urban spaces has created pointless, despicable, and unused spaces, while adopting local patterns, features and solutions will enhance the legible image of local urban settlements.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9007
Author(s):  
Seungwon Kang ◽  
Jaeweon Yeom ◽  
Juchul Jung

The purpose of the paper is to explore the dual aspect concept of the impact of urban forms on flood damage. Theoretically, urban form has the dual aspect concept of increasing or decreasing flood damage. Recent issues such as climate change and pandemics are increasing the need to re-discuss the relationship between urban forms and natural hazards. By revisiting the dual aspect concepts of urban forms such as aggregation and dispersion, we can effectively respond to specific urban problems that present complex issues at the city level. Accordingly, this paper once again considers what is a more resilient and ideal urban form for natural hazards by exploring dual aspect concepts of urban form for flood damage spatially and quantitatively from a macroscopic point of view.


2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-189
Author(s):  
Dijana Brkljac ◽  
Aleksandra Milinkovic ◽  
Milena Krkljes

From the very beginning of urban settlements, cities have had a very clear expression, because urban elements bear with them the symbolism and messages tied to relevant points in history, changes in function, characters etc. These messages, carried through a range of urban elements, have been changing in respect to lifestyles, which, ever since the rise of capitalism, predominantly meant with respect to economic conditions. Such a free-market impact has become particularly evident in the light of contemporary totalitarian capitalism that has equated urban space with commercial and exhibition space, thus moulding it into an urban market. This paper is intended as a critical review dealing with the analysis of urban spaces in respect to urban image creation, all in relation to relevant socio-economic influences and conditionalities. It also considers new symbolic meanings to the existing urban form, which affect urban life and its inhabitants.


The article focuses on the problem of the lack of objective evaluation of space-planning arrangement of buildings as a creative approach of the architect to the performing of functional tasks by the object. It is proposed to create a methodology for assessing the functional of space-planning solutions of buildings on the basis of numerical simulation of functional processes using the theory of human flows. There is a description of the prospects of using this method, which makes it possible to increase the coefficient of compactness, materials and works saving, more efficient use of space, reduce the cost of the life cycle of the building, save human forces and time to implement the functional of the building. The necessary initial data for modeling on the example of shopping and shopping-entertainment centers are considered. There are three main tasks for algorithmization of the functional of shopping centers. The conclusion is made about necessity of development of a method for objective assessment of buildings from the point of view of ergonomics of space-planning decisions based on the study of human behavior in buildings of different purposes.


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia ◽  
Sitzenfrei ◽  
Rauch ◽  
Liang ◽  
Liu

The development of urban drainage systems is challenged by rapid urbanization; however, little attention is paid to the urban form and its effects on these systems. This study develops an integrated city-drainage model that configures typical urban forms and their associated drainage infrastructures, specifically domestic wastewater and rainwater systems, to analyze the relationship between them. Three typical types of urban forms were investigated: the square, the star, and the strip. Virtual cities were designed first, with the corresponding drainage systems generated automatically and then linked to a model herein called the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). Evaluation was based on 200 random configurations of wastewater/rainwater systems with different structures or attributes. The results show that urban forms play more important roles on three dimensions of performance, namely economic efficiency, effectiveness, and adaptability, of the rainwater systems than of the wastewater systems. Cost is positively correlated to the effectiveness of rainwater systems among the different urban forms, while adaptability is negatively correlated to the other two performance dimensions. Regardless of the form, it is difficult for a city to make its drainage systems simultaneously cost-effective, efficient, and adaptable based on the virtual cities we investigated. This study could inspire the urban planning of both built-up and to-be-built areas to become more sustainable with their drainage infrastructure by recognizing the pros and cons of different macroscale urban forms.


2021 ◽  
pp. xx-xx

Several scholars have focused on the different approaches in designing convivial urban spaces, but literary evidence shows that the essence of aesthetic design in public urban spaces, by referring to the main dimensions involved in the shaping of urban vitality, has not been adequately researched. In this regard, this study, by hypothesizing that the quality of urban design leads to a vital urban environment, focuses on urban vitality from the aesthetic point of view. Thus, in using qualitative grounded theory as a main methodological tool and using a systematic review of the related literature as the main induction approach for collecting qualitative data, five main dimensions of urban vitality, which are necessary to attain a correlation with the aesthetic quality of urban design, were conceptualized. The study concludes that the aesthetic design of an urban setting has a direct effect on the active involvement of its users and that this, therefore, has a direct consequence on the level of public urban vitality, manifested. Integrating the complexity theory with the five main dimensions used for assessing urban vitality was suggested as a viable area for further research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 525-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Cremades ◽  
Philipp S. Sommer

Abstract. Cities are fundamental to climate change mitigation, and although there is increasing understanding about the relationship between emissions and urban form, this relationship has not been used to provide planning advice for urban land use so far. Here we present the Integrated Urban Complexity model (IUCm 1.0) that computes “climate-smart urban forms”, which are able to cut emissions related to energy consumption from urban mobility in half. Furthermore, we show the complex features that go beyond the normal debates about urban sprawl vs. compactness. Our results show how to reinforce fractal hierarchies and population density clusters within climate risk constraints to significantly decrease the energy consumption of urban mobility. The new model that we present aims to produce new advice about how cities can combat climate change.


Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2292
Author(s):  
Alessandro Bianchi ◽  
Isabella Taglieri ◽  
Verdiana Rimbotti Antinori ◽  
Fabrizio Palla ◽  
Monica Macaluso ◽  
...  

In Italy, Chianti Classico identifies a territory located in the heart of Tuscany that was once known as Chianti. From the pedological point of view, the entire DOCG (Denomination of controlled and guaranteed origin) has some common features but also shows many specific features related to certain small areas that give rise to the presence of many “terroirs”. Due to the intertwining created by the alternation of valleys and hills and the different characteristics of the territory, factors such as altitude and exposure play a very important role in the vegetative and productive expression of grapes. Some production areas were identified within the appellation where it is argued that the terroir and the grapes are quite distinct from those of other surrounding areas, albeit within the Chianti Classico appellation. On the basis of this information and considering that no data are available in the literature, the present study proposed an innovative multidisciplinary approach (analytical and statistical) that was capable of carrying out an objective evaluation of the various sub-areas investigated, using Sangiovese grapes as the variety in question. This research took into account the climatic results and the different pedological characteristics, evaluating the evolutionary phenomena that were linked to the ripening of the grapes in each phase of its formation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-16
Author(s):  
Erkut Yalçın ◽  
Halil Bilal ◽  
Ayhan Yağcı ◽  
Haluk Erol

A Vibro-Acoustic Finite Element Method (FEM) model capable of calculating the transient sound pressure generated by the door slam of a vehicle was developed in this study. A design sensitivity analysis (DSA) was performed for investigating the effects of major design variables on the related sound quality metrics. The methodology was developed using a sedan-car and its FEM model. This paper shows that a Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) model can be used as a rather powerful tool for giving design change decisions for the door components from sound quality point of view during vehicle body development according to psychoacoustic parameters.


Author(s):  
Madina Arif kyzy Mekhdieva

The article deals with the issues of urban settlements and urban lifestyle from the point of view of structural changes under the influence of transformational processes in the development of productive forces, tools and means of production. The author notes the historical nature of this process associated with the geographical environment, resources and migration flows under the influence of the development of capitalist relations. Some peculiarities of lifestyle in Baku as a city with an ancient history, with a number of characteristic features of a distinctive way of life, combining the traditions of several generations and different civilizations, are analyzed.


Author(s):  
Irena Prosenc

The narrative settings appear as one of the key elements of Milena Milani’s prose. They are characterised by a prevalence of urban spaces, followed by a significant presence of passages set by the sea. Their descriptions often correspond to real places of which the author had personal experience, including Venice, Milan, Rome and Albisola. The spaces are perceived from the protagonists’ point of view and affect their emotional states. The descriptions of urban spaces consist of built, human, natural and verbal elements, while marine settings imply positive connotations. The settings provide an important basis for numerous aspects of narration.


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