Cite as:
Hölscher C, Brösamle M, Vrachliotis G, 2009, "Challenges in multilevel wayfinding: a case study with the space syntax technique" Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design advance online publication, doi:10.1068/b34050t

Challenges in multilevel wayfinding: a case study with the space syntax technique

Christoph Hölscher, Martin Brösamle, Georg Vrachliotis

Received 9 May 2007; in revised form 15 September 2008; published online 2 October 2009

Abstract. In this paper we reanalyse an experiment on wayfinding in complex multilevel buildings, in the light of formal measures derived from space syntax. The empirical study compared the performance of experienced and inexperienced participants in a set of wayfinding tasks, and identified specific strategies for vertical navigation. Inexperienced participants predominantly rely on a central-point strategy, while experienced ones have more accurate knowledge and plan more effectively. This is reflected by space-syntax-based route measures: routes of inexperienced users showed higher values of connectivity and integration as well as step depth to goal. Usability deficits of the complex building could be tied to formal analysis, revealing additional problems of the setting. Special emphasis is put on proper modelling of the vertical connections between the floors in visibility graph analysis. On the basis of the space syntax results, two layout redesigns are proposed, which provide improvements both for general navigability and for orientation at specific locations.

This article has supplementary online material: Colour figures

Restricted material:

 Full-text PDF size: 2495 Kb

 References  34 references, 23 with DOI links ()

Your computer (IP address: 38.107.191.108) has not been recognised as being on a network authorised to view the full text or references of this article. Please contact your serials librarian (subscriptions information).