Research on Public Space Area Indicators of Physical Examination Centers

Abstract

With the increasing demand for medical checkups, problems such as overcrowding and confusion in the public spaces of physical examination centers are becoming prominent. This seriously affects the efficiency of medical checkups and the satisfaction of patients. Because of the lack of reference norms and standards, spatial resources are allocated blindly in physical examination centers. Therefore, the reasonable prediction of demands for space and the allocation of areas for public space are problems we need to explore. This study aims to establish a foundation for spatial resource allocation by analyzing the relationship between area allocation and volume of medical checkups and spatial comfort. The objective is to balance service quality and construction costs in physical examination centers. Utilizing AnyLogic, this research simulates pedestrian flow characteristics during peak hours based on empirical data. Additionally, it provides statistics on and analysis of such areas in 30 physical examination centers. The findings reveal that the average per capita allocation of public space ranges from 6.90 to 7.10 m2. The functional relationship between the area of public space (y) and the total area (x) is y = 0.3649x − 57.096. This paper also proposes a relationship between the waiting space and the daily volume of medical checkups according to two comfort levels. The percentages of waiting space in public space ranges from 10% to 12.5% (comfort level) and 7% to 10% (general comfort level). This research provides architects with a specific and operable foundation for space planning, enhancing the standardization and scientification of physical examination center construction. Furthermore, the methodology used in this study proves valuable for future analyses of the interrelationships among functional units in medical buildings. It can also be applied during the postuse evaluation phase, enabling continuous assessment and iterative improvement in the design.