Spatial network analysis: urban scale

Description

An online, self-paced training course for the construction and interpretation of spatial connectivity models. These models explain how spatial connections affect the social, economic and environmental performance of cities and regions.

Overview

Welcome to our training module on Spatial network analysis: urban scale. While this module is intended as a follow up to our Interconnected Places course, it is also possible to take it as a stand-alone course. Created by Space Syntax, the course introduces Depthmap and QGIS, and is designed to provide you with the same hands-on analytic skills we apply in daily practice.

Approach

The course is composed of three short parts that you can access and come back to whenever you have time to engage and learn. The material is dynamic and interactive, with opportunities to test your new knowledge. You will also be given exercise files that you can use to try out the software programmes discussed in the course, following the in-course videos to undertake your own urban analysis in the featured software programmes. You can download exercise files and a reading list from the site, and you will be given links to where you can down the relevant software.

Who? The course is aimed at people who are interested in analysing cities, systems and urban processes - and who would like to apply their understanding to analyse urban systems in practice. This could include urban designers, planners and architects; but also geographers, transport specialists and people interested in urban sustainability. No prior technical knowledge is required to complete the course.  

Approach

There are three parts to the course – with each taking less than 30 minutes to complete: 

Part 1 | Representing space

Here we introduce how we represent urban space in 'space syntax' analysis. We explain how we conduct axial analysis of cities, and explore the concepts of lines of sight, the isovist, just about axial analysis and symbolic forms of axiality. We also look at the challenges of representing particular urban features such as parks, roundabouts and streets that cross over or under each other in bridges and tunnels.

Part 2 | Using depthmapX to analyse urban systems

We explore how to use the opensource software depthmapX to analyse urban systems. We begin by exploring some basic concepts that are important to grasp when using this software, and then introduce you to an exercise which you can do at home while following on from a step-by-step video.

Part 3a | Introduction to QGIS for beginners

A comprehensive introduction to QGIS for those not familiar with the software or similar Geographical Information Systems.

Part 3b | Working with the Space Syntax Toolkit for QGIS

We show you how to undertake space syntax analysis in geographical information systems. We will introduce the Space Syntax Toolkit for QGIS and undertake an exercise together, importing and analysing an urban area.

Glossary

Creative team

Dr Francesca Froy

Su Jin Kwon

Ed Parham

Prof Tim Stonor

Haruki Hoshii

Katherine Stonor

We would also like to thank Helen Cheon for all her help in designing material, sourcing images and advising on the technical aspects of creating this training module.

Space Syntax Limited

Registered in England No. 2404770 at 2 Leman Street, London, E1W 9US

VAT: GB 696 6039 87