Using Space Syntax Method and Gis-Based Analysis for the Spatial Allocation of Roadside Rest Areas

Abstract

A well-grounded system of Roadside Rest Areas (RRA) for transit travellers and local inhabitants in Latvia and Lithuania is absent. To select places for the location of RRA on Latvian-Lithuanian cross-border roads space syntax method and GIS-based analysis was used. The aim of this article is to present the developed methodology, results of the performed research and to lead discussion for the further development and applicability of the methodology. The application of space syntax method to nine transit roads in Latvian-Lithuanian border zone reveals that considering both local and regional contexts three roads or their parts could be recommended for the location of RRA. For the more precise location of RRA GIS-based method was developed. This method includes the GIS capabilities of information collection, spatial analysis and multi-criteria (eight criteria were selected) evaluation. The main proposed methodical stages are: creation of the thematic GIS database; formulation of RRA sites selection criteria, division of the analysed road into intervals, and assignment of attribute data according to the criteria to the road intervals; generation of buffer zones for the analysed road and evaluation of them according the selected criteria; assignment of values provided to the buffer zones to the road intervals attribute data and total rating of roadside area potential to equip rest areas; elaboration of road buffer zone area suitable for the location of RRA.

Sustainable transport planning: Economical and morphological thresholds

“…By developing GIS-based analysis techniques, usually used for calculating configurative spatial relationships in built environments, with special regard to the assessment of the performance of road networks in terms of accessibility (following a line of research that refers to the Space Syntax method -Hillier B 1996) [25] ad hoc applications should be developed to measure and map the variations, even punctual, of the main physical parameters that condition the use of the urban mobility infrastructure, with reference to specific thresholds (e.g. : variations in the width of the roads that allow or do not allow to host different paths for different road users; slopes, which limit walking and biking, etc.).…”

Correlation between Road Network Accessibility and Urban Land Use: A Case Study of Fuzhou City

“…In summary, the existing calculation methods for road network accessibility are widely used traditionally, and few of them are suitable for fine spatial-scale accessibility research. The space syntax is suitable for the calculation of road network accessibility in fine spatial scales and has been applied to the calculation of the accessibility of subway lines, urban blocks or parks and buildings at the urban scale [21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. Nevertheless, the accessibility research based on spatial syntax has mainly considered spatial topological relations, whilst few have considered such factors as actual road speed restriction and network structure grade which could reflect the accessibility differences amongst different road networks precisely.…”