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Measuring the Potential for Meaningful Usability of Spaces: The Case Studies of Two Social Housing Districts in Cagliari, Italy

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Computational Science and Its Applications – ICCSA 2023 Workshops (ICCSA 2023)

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Abstract

The ongoing debate on the adaptation of urban environments in the context of climate alterations and the COVID-19 pandemic underlines the need for an organization of urban spaces and structures that promote active mobility, socialisation, sports, and recreational activities. This emerging need intersects with the broader issue of the built environment’s impact on individuals’ quality of life. This study examines the centrality of positive emotions in determining quality of life and introduces the concept of meaningful usability to conceptualize the potential of built environment factors to promote positive emotional responses. The study aims to answer two questions: first, what are the components and qualities of public spaces that influence individuals’ positive emotional responses? Second, how can a set of metrics be defined to measure relevant environmental conditions that are conducive to meaningful usability? The case study focuses on the districts of Is Mirrionis and Mulinu Becciu in the Metropolitan City of Cagliari (MCC). The study contributes to the field of urban studies by developing a procedure that measures access to urban services, Green amenities, Public transit, distance form the urban centre and diversity of functions to structure a cognitive foundation for the development of urban regeneration strategies. The analysis demonstrates the validity of spatial and configurational metrics in identifying vulnerable areas, criticalities in terms of access to services and urban quality and defining the objectives of urban regeneration strategies.

This paper is the result of the joint work of the authors. ‘Abstract’, ‘Methodology’, and ‘Results’ were written jointly by the authors. Alfonso Annunziata wrote ‘Literature Review: factors impacting users’ emotional response.’. Chiara Garau wrote the ‘Introduction’ and “Selection of the areas of Study”. Aynaz Lotfata wrote ‘Discussion and Conclusions’. Chiara Garau coordinated and supervised the paper.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the MIUR through the project "WEAKI TRANSIT: WEAK-demand areas Innovative TRANsport Shared services for Italian Towns (Project code: 20174ARRHT /CUP Code: J74I19000320008), financed with the PRIN 2017 (Research Projects of National Relevance) programme. This paper is also supported by Cagliari Accessibility Lab, an interdepartmental centre at the University of Cagliari (Rector's Decree of 4 March 2020. https://www.unica.it/unica/it/cagliari_accessibility_lab.page). This study was conducted within the “e.INS – Ecosystem of Innovation for Next Generation Sardinia” funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research under the Next-Generation EU Programme (National Recovery and Resilience Plan – PNRR, M4C2, INVESTMENT 1.5 – DD 1056 of 23/06/2022, ECS00000038). This manuscript reflects only the authors’ views and opinions, neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be considered responsible for them.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, 09129, Cagliari, Italy

    Alfonso Annunziata & Chiara Garau

  2. School Of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of California, Davis, USA

    Aynaz Lotfata

Authors
  1. Alfonso Annunziata
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  2. Chiara Garau
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  3. Aynaz Lotfata
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chiara Garau .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Osvaldo Gervasi

  2. University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy

    Beniamino Murgante

  3. University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

    Ana Maria A. C. Rocha

  4. University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

    Chiara Garau

  5. University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy

    Francesco Scorza

  6. University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    Yeliz Karaca

  7. Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Carmelo M. Torre

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Annunziata, A., Garau, C., Lotfata, A. (2023). Measuring the Potential for Meaningful Usability of Spaces: The Case Studies of Two Social Housing Districts in Cagliari, Italy. In: Gervasi, O., et al. Computational Science and Its Applications – ICCSA 2023 Workshops. ICCSA 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14110. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37123-3_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37123-3_20

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