Space Syntax analysis for public pervasive systems
Irene Lopez de Vallejo, Ava Fatah, Alan Penn
The Bartlett School of Graduate Studies
University College London
{ i.vallejo,a.fatah,a.penn }@ucl.ac.uk
ABSTRACT
In this position paper we present a recent research proposal to apply Space Syntax analysis
to the development of a theoretical framework and understanding for the design of pervasive
systems as integral elements of the urban landscape. The research is focused in the city of
Bath, a heritage based tourist attraction and university area.
INTRODUCTION
Building pervasive systems requires a new way of thinking about the design and use of ICT
systems and how they interweave with the built environment. In urban areas we have the
greatest opportunities and the strongest needs to design and build pervasive systems, yet
architecture and urban design have not featured strongly in pervasive systems research. We
have no fundamental theory, principles, methods or tools for designing pervasive systems as
integral elements of the urban landscape. To address some of these issues, the Space
Syntax group proposes to apply its innovative theory and methodology to the development,
use and evaluation of a public pervasive system.
In the next sections we describe the research objectives, we then review research methods to
end drawing conclusions about the light space syntax analysis might throw on understanding
the nature of the integration of pervasive ICT system into urban areas.
OBJECTIVES
Our approach aims to develop a methodology, design principles and techniques for designing
city-scale pervasive systems as integral facets of urban design, and to address the
challenges the implementation, deployment, use and evaluation of pervasive systems from
the currently prevailing small scale examples to long-term, city-scale pervasive systems
present.
Our previous work on space syntax, interaction spaces, spatial navigation in real and virtual
environments and spatial cognitive mapping will serve as a starting point for analysing the use
of urban space and deriving requirements for pervasive systems. We will combine analyses of
people’s movements and activities in the existing urban environment with analyses of
pervasive technologies and the interaction spaces they create. The results of these analyses
will contribute to fundamental theory and knowledge and will be embodied in design principles
and techniques.
Specific research objectives are:
1.- to understand the nature of the city and of its relationship with society
2.- to understand the role of urban heritage in the construction of society and social structures
3.- to understand the complex relationship between pervasive computing technologies, urban
space and society
4.- to investigate the impact of the deployment of a pervasive system on heritage and on local
people’s and visitors’ use of and relationship with space, physical, social.
The research activities associated with these objectives involve both analytic and intervention
methods.
RESEARCH METHODS
The first research objective will be achieved through a Space Syntax analysis of the City of
Bath aimed at answering the following questions: What does the city’s form mean to (a) the
people who live there, (b) students and (c) tourists? How do they differ from each other? This
will involve identifying social practices in Bath as a heritage based tourist attraction and as a
place of work and study; identifying existing social protocols and the emergent ones that result
from the deployment of pervasive technologies; and identifying existing sub-cultures.
We will use five methods to capture data:
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
empirical observation, survey and analysis of the urban space and the way it is used
by different groups (tourists, students, locals), using both quantitative and qualitative
methods;
 social mapping of the groups and interfaces and existing social practices;
 pervasive technologies mapping of existing pervasive technologies and ICT
services, urban surveillance functions and devices, e.g. CCTV, WebCams, mobile
phone cells, wireless LAN hotspots;
 spatial analysis of the urban space in terms of visibility and accessibility;
 agent simulations of interactions between different groups of tourists, locals and
students, as constrained by the city’s form.
All the data obtained will be analyzed using software specifically developed by the Space
Syntax group to understand the relationship between space and society.
The second research objective will be achieved through a qualitative approach focused on (a)
analyzing the social construction of heritage in the City of Bath and (b) analyzing the social
experience of the City. Methods to be used are (i) distribution of cameras and through the
pictures obtained and accompanying comments analyze the topics; and (ii) focus groups with
different categories of people.
The third research objective will be approached through an art installation, in which the
experience of pervasive computing will be analyzed through artistic experiments involving the
city, the technologies and the people who happen to be using the space at that time. Key
issues here are attitudes and reactions towards the use of technology and the experience of
space. This objective will also be achieved through observations of new practices in the public
space as a result of using new pervasive technologies (e.g. devices with Bluetooth) The most
important objective of these activities is that people understand and are familiar with the
possibilities of the technology and its use in space.
The last research objective will be achieved through revisiting the initial research with a Space
Syntax analysis following the deployment of the pervasive system developed.
CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK
We have presented an early approach for developing a theoretical frame work and
understanding for designing pervasive computing technologies as integral elements of the
urban landscape in the city of Bath. Using innovative research methods based on Space
Syntax theory we suggest developing a theoretical framework that may throw light, in general,
on understanding the complex relationship between pervasive systems, urban space and
society; and, in particular, on the impact of the deployment of a pervasive system on local
people’s and visitors’ relationships to heritage .
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank the Department of Computer Science of the University of Bath,
especially Eamonn O’Neill and his research group, for his contribution to raise awareness and
promote multidisciplinary research on this topic.
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