SPN: Smart Pedestrian Net
Smart cities are walkable: SPN – a model to plan a pedestrian network and a pedestrian navigation system
Introduction
Cities are facing growing mobility challenges due to the strong dependence on cars. Motorised traffic is recognisably a major source of air and noise pollution in cities. In EU, urban mobility accounts for 40% of CO2 emissions and up to 70% of other pollutants. The sustainable mobility concept is focused in shifting this pattern towards non-motorised or more sustainable forms of mobility. Walking is a soft and active mode strictly related with sustainable mobility as it reduces traffic congestion and pollution and has positive impacts on health. SPN is a project focused on improving walkability in cities. SPN intends to provide a model to help European cities to improve walkability as one of the important dimensions of smart, sustainable and inclusive development.
Aim/objective
- Assess the urban conditions provided to pedestrians considering a wide range of criteria
- Define planning policies to improve walkability and street connectivity by involving stakeholders
- Develop a pedestrian navigation system for defining routes
Approaches/methods
- A GIS multi-criteria and space syntax analysis to assess the urban conditions and street connectivity
- Multi-actor participatory approach with stakeholders, surveys and workshops
- Real time data in the navigation system and website to publish findings
Expected results and impacts
- Increased understanding of the walkability
- Providing planning policies and management tools to help decision makers in improving walkability
- Developing a mobile navigation system to help pedestrian in selecting routes according with their preferences
Partners:
University of Minho – www.uminho.pt
University of Bologna - www.unibo.it
EUC Research Center (European University Cyprus) - www.euc.ac.cy
Association for Sustainable Innovative Development in Economics, Environment and Society - asidees.org
Involved cities/project examples
Cidade do Porto, Portugal - www.cm-porto.pt
Comune di Bologna - www.comune.bologna.it
SPN: Smart Pedestrian Net
JPI Urban Europe, ERA-NET Cofund Smart Urban Futures Call
jpi-urbaneurope.eu/calls/ensuf-call
Duration: 2017–2020
Internet: http://ctac.uminho.pt/spn/
Contact: Prof. Rui Ramos, CTAC, University of Minho
E-mail: rui.ramos@civil.uminho.pt
Budget: 985.000,00 EUR
