Public Space Analysis Weblog

Google

publicspaceanalysis — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:35:20 +0000

I thought they other day that it would be cool if the software could eventually become compatible with Google Eatrh and Google SketchUp. That way a user could take information or designs from either of the Google programs and input them into the Spacial Analysis Software in order to help them better analyse a public space.

Stage II

publicspaceanalysis — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:11:23 +0000

The second stage of the software would require the user to seperate the observed input into visually observed and digitally observed.

The visually observed would be for when the user has visually seen movement or action within a public space and can reproduce it within the software.

The digitally observed would be for when the user digitlly records the action or movement within a public space and directly inputs it into the computer. The user would then help the software to recognize the spacial boundries and pick out the people so that it can analyze it.

Space.Shell

publicspaceanalysis — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:00:01 +0000

I have decided to name my software “Space.Shell” (Play on words of spatial.) A few months ago whenever I was in Siena and noticed how that Piazza del Campo was an excellent public space that was used by both the locals and the tourists. I also noticed that it was shaped like a shell.

Also, when I have been brainstorming and working on how I want the software to function, many of my sketches and notes have taken the shape of a shell.

Software- Step 1

publicspaceanalysis — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:59:18 +0000

In order for the software to provide the user the best options for analysis there would have to be two kinds of inputs supported by the software. The first would be a designed input. This would allow the user to design a space and see how people react to it.

The second would be observed input. This would allow the user to put in what he/she has observed and allow them to analyze it better.

By having these two options, the software covers the spectrum of what the user can input. This makes it easier for the user to input whatever information they may have in an easy manner.

If you have any thoughts or comments let me know.

Artificial Intelligence

publicspaceanalysis — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:48:49 +0000

After continued research I have decided that the Public Space Analysis software would need extremely sophisticated artificial intelligence embedded in it. The field of artificial intelligence is defined as the study and design of intelligent agents where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions which maximize its chances of success.

In previous posts I have discussed how the people / users of a public space are truely what make it successful or unsuccessful. Therefore, a computer program with the intent of analyzing a public space would have to be able to predict what a person would do within the space. The software would have to have to artificially create human reactions and show what they would do. The computer game The Sims has an artificiall intelligence system that would be similar but my softwares system would have to be much more advanced and be able to work on a much larger scale.

More of Kevin Lynch’s Good City Form

publicspaceanalysis — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:49:47 +0000

Here is another interesting quote:

“The City may be looked on as a story, a pattern of relations between human groups, a production and distribution of space, a field of physical force, a set of linked decisions, or an area of conflict”

A city is so much more than just a set of buildings….

It is a whole organism that is made up of tiny parts. When one part fails…it weakens the rest. Strong, successful organisms (cities) have all of their parts working at 100% capacity.

Kevin Lynch – Good City Form

publicspaceanalysis — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:36:01 +0000

My professor recommended I take a look at Good City Form by Kevin Lynch. I just started it but thus far it is pretty interesting. It is about the analysis of urban design. Here are a couple of quotes:

On what makes a good urban design: “cities are too complicated, too far beyond our control, and affect too many people, who are subject to too many cultural variations, to permit any rational answer.”

“The modification of settlement is a human act, however complex, accomplished for human motives, however obscure or ineffective. Uncovering those motives gives us some first clues to the connection between values and environmental form.”

Equally Spaced?

publicspaceanalysis — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:20:44 +0000

I found a very interesting report by a group called Demos concerning public space and interaction between diverse communities called “Equally Spaced.” Here is the link. If you are interested in the topic it is a very good read.

I liked how they discussed how a successful public space is less about a predetermined designed space, and more about the experience created between the people and place. No matter how outstanding the design is, it is up to the people to make it successful. That is something that no designer has direct control over. A park can be the most beautifully designed park in the world but if no one uses it then it is worthless.

I also found it interesting how they talked about “virtual public space.” In the world of the Internet people can go to a “public space” without leaving a “private space.” Places like Facebook, Myspace, and even WordPress could be considered a public space. I find this to be an uncomfortable reality. As convenient as the Internet can be at giving us information I think it is subduing our desire for direct human interaction.

Any questions, comments, or critiques are greatly appreciated!

What makes a space public?

publicspaceanalysis — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:03:49 +0000

What makes a space public? Is it a defined space such as a park or picnic area? Is it defined as a place where people congregate or simply where individuals can move through. Is it a place where anyone can access for free? Would the “front yard” of a home qualify as a public space? Would a sidewalk be considered a public space even if they are simply meant for “walking”?

What makes these so called “public spaces” successful??

Since I have been here in Italy I have noticed that the Italians views on what is public and what is private is very different that America’s view. Italians have no problem argueing in the street, leaving their laundry to dry where anyone who walks by can see, or even sitting inside in their underwear with the door open for anyone passing by on the street to see.

It is interesting how these deffinitions blur between cultures. There is no right or wrong. So a public space could be extremely successful in Italy while being a complete and utter failure in America.

A software for this type of analysis would have to take these cultural tendencies into account. A software that could somehow take the analysis of a certain culture within a public space and then take it and throw it back into a newly designed space to see how individuals would react would be something (in my opinion) that would be very useful to architects or urban planners. Taking it to the next step would be how to make the software analyze a space with many cultural tendencies thrown into the mix. A large urban space in a large city would have many, many different cultures that could potentially use the space.

Any thoughts or comments on the subject are greatly appreciated!

Public Space Analysis Software

publicspaceanalysis — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:44:14 +0000

I am an architecture student at Texas A&M University currently studying abroad in Castiglion Fiorentino. I am interested in designing a software program with the purpose of analyzing in depth the relationship between the way a public space is designed and the populations instinctual reaction to it through movement and action.

Potential users for this software would be anyone looking to design or renovate a public space, analyze movement patterns, analyze behaviors of certain groups of people, or analyze a population over a long period of time.

If you have any input, information, or advice please let me know! I will keep blogging on the progress I make.