224 / 2023-09-27 21:43:18

Uncovering the relationship among spatial vitality, perception, and environment of urban underground space in the metro zone

Spatial vitality; Spatial environments; Spatial perception; Underground space; Metro zone

With the rapid development of rail transit, effectively developing urban underground space (UUS) in the metro zone has become an important approach to expanding urban space. However, the forms and environmental differences of UUS in different metro areas are significant, and problems such as an uneven distribution or even loss of vitality, which restricts the utilization efficiency of the space. Thus, based on the typical UUSs of metro area in Shanghai as case studies, we explore the correlation mechanism between subway area environment and the distribution of UUS vitality in different spatial and temporal dimensions. Firstly, we established a UUS environmental assessment system based on the "comfort, aesthetic, function, traffic, structure" using space syntax, instrumental measurement, points of interest, and post occupancy evaluations. Then, by means of the video number identification method, the measurement model of the underground spatial and temporal vitality of the metro area is formed, which takes into account the population density, activity intensity and space attraction. Finally, by constructing a partial-least-square structural equation model, the internal relationships between the UUS environment and corresponding space vitality and space perception under different study areas, namely the underground transportation-oriented space (transportation space for short) and the underground commercial-oriented space (commercial space for short), were studied in detail throughout the working day. The study reveals the impact of key environmental parameters in subway areas on the spatial-temporal distribution of space vitality, evaluate their influence weights, and establish a quantitative indicator correlation database of subway area multidimensional environmental characteristics and vitality. Results indicate the following: (1) the UUS in the metro zone environment influences spatial vitality. The vitality distribution of transportation space is significantly affected by spatial traffic and structure. The vitality distribution of commercial space is significantly affected by spatial function and traffic. (2) The environment of UUSs in the metro zone influences user's perception. The perception of transportation space is significantly affected by aesthetics and comfort. The perception of commercial space is significantly affected by the aesthetic, comfort, and spatial functions. (3) The user's perception affects vitality, and the effect is more significant in commercial space. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the relationship between the complex environment and its spatial vitality as well as the spatial perception of the UUS in metro zones. Our research results provide a novel approach and theoretical basis for the development and application of UUS vitality and UUS environmental assessment in various cities.