11th EAEA Envisioning Architecture: Design, Evaluation, Communication Conference in 2013

Track 2 | Experiential Simulation | The sensory perception of the built environment

Digitizing the new image of the city: towards an easier wayfinding

Adham Mohamed Hany Abulnour

Keywords: wayfidning; cognitive mapping; virtual reality

ABSTRACT

A city's complex anatomy is hard to percept in today's world. The syntax of modern cities is argued to have become too enriched with various elements to the verge of being incapable of reflecting a clear and well defined image. This consequently reflects on the difficulty of wayfinding in modern cities.
Traditional methods of wayfinding whether cognitive (as in retrieving a certain trip path from the mind) or physical (such as sketch maps and signs) still prove their ability to throw an authentic and unified air upon cities. Nevertheless, the image reflected by such an authenticity and unification is not always necessarily up-to-date and heartily complete.
Cities evolve and accumulate strata of the built environment along with human activities over one another. This being said, and despite not being obsolete, traditional methods of wayfinding are strongly argued not to be fully capable of coping with the fast and overwhelming metamorphosis of the city's image in modern times.
To this end, the use of digital tools to complete the image of the city and accordingly enrich the process of wayfinding has become an imperative in our modern world. Such a use of digital tools reaches beyond the simplicity of dependence on computerized gadgets yet is optimally targeted to offer a better perception of the city and aid in formulating a clearer mental map of its complex and rich surroundings.
The aim and scope of this paper is to explore the use of digital techniques (with special reference to Virtual Reality) in providing a deeper perception of a modern city's anatomy that can be well carved in wayfinders' composed image of the city.
The paper follows a multidisciplinary methodology in examining the subject under study. Analytical and critical efforts are exerted with the aid of a literature review. The paper commences with the definition of wayfinding and navigation in order to set the ground for discussing the physical and cognitive aspects of the process. The paper then proceeds to discussing and critiquing the need for a new set of tools (digital devices) to complement the traditional physical and cognitive aspects of the wayfinding process. The discussion develops into a brief yet thorough analysis of the capabilities of a number of the major digital devices used for wayfinding in today's modern cities. The main aim behind this discussion is to clarify the role of digital devices in synthesizing a more thorough image of the city. The paper finally interprets its discussions and findings into a set of recommendation regarding the use of digital devices with Egypt as the case analyzed. This is intended to better demonstrate the various factors and considerations that govern the use of digital devices for wayfinding in todays' world.

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AUTHOR

Adham Mohamed Hany Abulnour

Architectural and Environmental design Department, Arab Academy for Science & Technology, Alexandria, Egypt

Full time lecturer at the Architectural Design Department of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Alexandria, Egypt.
PhD- Architectural planning- Politecnico di Milano- Italy.
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) part 1 and 2 accredited.
"European Doctor" title from the Politencico di Milano.
Member of the Italian Milanese Syndicate of Architects " Albo di Milano" number 17223.

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