Principles of Urban Design

LECTURE 3

Abhishek K. Venkitaraman Iyer

Assistant Professor
Faculty of Architecture, MIT

Contents
OVERVIEW OF TECHNIQUES OF ANALYSIS
Morphology and Typology in urban design
Surveys- Data Collection Techniques, types of survey,
questionnaire preparation, analytical and projection techniques

THE PROCESS
Collection of data

Assessment of existing conditions

Analysis
Projections of future requirements
Planning, design and assessment

Data Collection Preliminary

listing
The WHAT and the WHY

A checklist of major topics for study

Division of these topics into subtopics / clusters
A list of information needed for each of these
The use of each for analysis
Rating these in terms of priority / importance

The HOW
List sources of these information various secondary sources for
ready primary data
Frame methodology of collecting data by primary means
Visual surveys and site studies
Questionnaire interviews, expert opinion surveys, public meetings, etc.

Types of Data:
Primary Data : Data collected on the site through surveys,
questionnaires etc.
Secondary Data: Secondary data is data that is collected from the
primary sources which can be used in the current research study. The
following are some ways of collecting secondary data:
Books
Records
Biographies
Newspapers
Published censuses or other statistical data
Data archives
Internet articles Research articles by other researchers (journals)
Databases

Criteria for Evaluating Secondary Data Specifications:

Methodology Used to Collect the Data Error
Accuracy of the Data Currency
When the Data Were Collected Objective(s)
The Purpose for Which the Data Were Collected Nature:
The Content of the Data Dependability:
Overall, How Dependable Are the Data

Mapping

Overlay mapping
GIS Mapping
Aerial Photographs
Digital Elevation model
Digital terrain model

Urban morphology

Figure-ground mapping
Typological analysis
Materials and components analysis
Walk-through analysis

What it is:

Analysis techniques used to study the present and past historical patterns
of urban structure, form, land use and patterns.
Provides an understanding of the existing physical form and structure of
the urban environment at different scales, from individual buildings, lots,
street patterns and blocks.

What its useful for:

Defining urban patterns and characteristics that create a unique sense of

place.
It helps in the appraisal of successful and unsuccessful urban form, and
can examine the processes that shaped past change, or features that
persist in the present urban fabric.
It can define urban boundaries, inform development controls, and form
the basis for design guidelines for character and heritage areas.

How its done:

Characteristics of an urban area, such as it buildings, lots, blocks,

street patterns, open space, land-use activities and building details,
are recorded, measured, mapped and analysed using existing and/or
historical information.
figure-ground mapping is where the building footprint is blacked out,
with open space left blank on a plan. With this technique, the open space
and other character features of the site can be analysed.
A typological analysis classifies buildings, lots, streets, blocks or open
space into typical or atypical types. Type is defined by a combination of
plan, dimension and use characteristics. This information can be
used in character studies, design development and urban design
policy.
A materials and components analysis is a detailed urban morphology
study recording building and material details.
This can define the character of an urban area, and inform design
selection of future colours, materials and components for the
elements within an area.

Figure Ground Map of a part of Rome

Figure Ground Map of Ghaziabad Old City

Figure Ground Map of Oststadt, Karlsruhe

Typology of the built form

Building age analysis

Walk Through Analysis

What it is:
An assessment of urban qualities and design issues done by walking
through an area and recording observations and impressions along
the way. It uses mainly graphic methods for recording observations.
What its useful for:
A walk-through gives an overview of the design issues, and is often
the first stage of a more intensive appraisal that involves both qualitative
and quantitative methods. This technique helps establish the extent of
the design issues and identifies further work required.
How its done:
Observational analysis of place that records the main features, both
successful and unsuccessful, in a preliminary urban design assessment.
Key findings are often recorded by graphic means, such as photographs
or annotated sketches and plans. Checklists are typically used to ensure
consistency when appraising a number of buildings, streets or areas.

Behavior Observation
Behavior Mapping
Activity mapping

Activity Mapping

Activity Mapping

http://www.intechopen.com/source/html/40505/media/image10.png

Activity Mapping

Active Frontages
Active frontages: It
is important that
buildings
present
active frontages to
the public spaces of
the city as far as
possible. By active
frontages we mean
ground floor shop
windows
or
transparent frontages
so that the activity
within the building is
visible
from
the
street.

Ped-shed Analysis
What it is:

A mapping technique that calculates the population

catchment within a five or 10 minute walk
from an activity, transport stop or node.

What its useful for:

Providing walkability analysis of important

destinations (for example, town centres or
transport nodes) within neighbourhoods, and how
evenly these destinations are distributed and
dispersed through a town or city.

How its used:

A fixed-diameter circle is overlaid on a map with the centre placed on

the destination point. Circle radii are usually based on an average person
walking 400 metres in five minutes. A second radius of 800 metres indicates
a 10 minute walk. The population density within this radius can then be
calculated to determine the number of people within easy walking distance of
the destination. A ped-shed analysis can be refined further by mapping linkages
and obstacles that may decrease or increase travel distance or time to give a
more accurate population figure.

Demarcation of a walking influence zone in case of a Metro corridor

Location of facilities within the walkable range in the residential sectors of Auroville

Historical Analysis
The richness of the urban realm is the product of a long process of
historical development.
If the site has an ancient history the study may include a detailed
archaeological investigation. More simply, it may identify those buildings, trees
and other structures which have been listed for protection, including sites of
scientific or ecological interest.
The analysis of the site and its history would conclude with a study of
more recent pressures on the urban structure, which would include an
analysis of recent planning documents in order to determine those
policies which currently affect development on the site.

Evolution map of Hebri

Collecting and analyzing a wide range of historical data contained

in, for example, institutional, corporate or public records.

Archive research provides historical information about the past environment,

activities and structures.
Archive research provides invaluable primary and secondary source material
where it is not possible to observe, interview or survey the past community. It
allows the analysis of the past heritage, character and context for projects where
maintaining an authentic sense of place is important.
Collections of maps, drawings and photographs are particularly useful for urban
design and heritage-related research.

Visual Analysis
The visual analysis has three main parts:
a study of a three dimensional public space,
a study of the two dimensional surfaces which enclose public space,
and
a study of architectural details which give an area its special character.
The most common
tools for recording
spatial
composition are
the camera and
the threedimensional
perspective drawn
from the normal
eye level.

Surveys

Public Satisfaction surveys

3+, 3- surveys
Three questions surveys
Visual preference surveys
Placecheck
Post occupancy evaluation
Design quality indicators
Benchmarking

Surveys
What it is:
A systematic way of determining the views and opinions of a large number of
people on a particular topic through the use of interviews with structured
questions or a standardised questionnaire.
What its useful for:
Surveys can be used to gather large amounts of comparable and easily
quantifiable data, and to provide an objective basis for planning and future
action.

Surveys can provide both qualitative and quantitative data. A structured

interview will uncover qualitative data on peoples values
and perceptions that can be quantitatively tabulated.
A professionally produced survey is a useful means of accurately and
objectively assessing community opinion on high-profile and controversial
community projects.

Public Satisfaction surveys

3+, 3- surveys
Three questions surveys are common in open space and neighbourhood
improvement projects. They ask people to identify three things they like
and three things they dislike about the current environment, and note their
suggestions for changes.

Placecheck
Placecheck (http://www.placecheck.info/) is a specific urban design
questionnaire for the community, developed by the UK Urban Design
Alliance, that reveals where improvements are needed and focuses on how
to achieve them.
1. Choose an area to Placecheck.
2. Spend an hour or so on a walkabout.
3.
Ask:
What do we like about this place?
What do we dislike about it?
What do we need to work on?
4. Think about why the place is as it is. Discuss how to make your
ideas happen, and who needs to be involved.

5.

Make a note of what you have decided.

6.

Follow up with action:

A further survey method is the post-occupancy evaluation, a

systematic survey and study of how occupants respond to a new or
existing building or environment once it is operational.

Questionnaire preparation

Thank You !