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Towards the Definition of a Comprehensive Walkability Index for Historical Centres

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Computational Science and Its Applications – ICCSA 2021 (ICCSA 2021)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNTCS,volume 12958))

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Abstract

Historical centres are crucial areas where urban and transport planners should aim at enhancing adequate walkability conditions. This should be considered a priority in order to allow all users, including the most vulnerable ones, to access the activities they wish to engage in.

Based on this premises, the paper aims at defining a methodological approach to comprehensively assess the existing pedestrian network infrastructure within historical centres, considering safety, comfort and enjoyment factors of the walking experience.

In-field inspections have been carried out for the main pedestrian paths and crossings within the historical centre of Parma and data have been georeferenced in a GIS database. The indicators considered in the walkability analysis are: sidewalks width, change of levels, bottlenecks, coloured ground signs, protection level, presence of seats, maintenance level and presence of tactile flooring. A comprehensive walkability index has been developed to assess the quality of each pedestrian link and crossing. The results have been represented in GIS-based thematic maps, that can support local authorities in defining priorities of intervention.

The authors jointly designed and contributed to the paper. Conceptualization: B.C., S.R., M.I., M.Z., V.T.; Methodology: B.C., S.R., V.T.; Data curation: B.C., S.R..; Data elaboration: V.T.; Writing: B.C (chapter 3.1; 4.1; 4.2; 5.2), S.R. (chapter 1; 2; 4.2; 5.1; 6), V.T. (chapter 1; 2; 3.2; 3.3; 6). Supervision and funding acquisition: M.I, M.Z.

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Acknowledgments

In field inspections of the pedestrian paths were carried out within a research project on pedestrian accessibility to the historical centre of Parma financed by Parma Municipality (scientific responsible prof. Michele Zazzi). The authors wish to thank Maddalena Moretti for conducting the inspections.

This study was also supported by the MIUR (Ministry of Education, Universities and Research [Italy]) through a project entitled WEAKI TRANSIT: WEAK-demand areas Innovative TRANsport Shared services for Italian Towns (Project code: 20174ARRHT), financed with the PRIN 2017 (Research Projects of National Relevance) programme. We authorise the MIUR to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes, notwithstanding any copyright notations thereon. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the MIUR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy

    Barbara Caselli, Silvia Rossetti & Michele Zazzi

  2. Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, 95125, Catania, Italy

    Matteo Ignaccolo & Vincenza Torrisi

Authors
  1. Barbara Caselli
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  2. Silvia Rossetti
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  3. Matteo Ignaccolo
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  4. Michele Zazzi
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  5. Vincenza Torrisi
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Barbara Caselli , Silvia Rossetti or Vincenza Torrisi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Osvaldo Gervasi

  2. University of Basilicata, Potenza, Potenza, Italy

    Beniamino Murgante

  3. Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

    Sanjay Misra

  4. University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

    Chiara Garau

  5. University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

    Ivan Blečić

  6. Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia

    David Taniar

  7. Kyushu Sangyo University, Fukuoka, Japan

    Bernady O. Apduhan

  8. University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

    Ana Maria A. C. Rocha

  9. Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Eufemia Tarantino

  10. Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Carmelo Maria Torre

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Caselli, B., Rossetti, S., Ignaccolo, M., Zazzi, M., Torrisi, V. (2021). Towards the Definition of a Comprehensive Walkability Index for Historical Centres. In: Gervasi, O., et al. Computational Science and Its Applications – ICCSA 2021. ICCSA 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12958. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87016-4_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87016-4_36

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-87016-4

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