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A Computational Application of Urban Network Analysis on Walkability in Design Decision Making A COMPUTATIONAL APPLICATION OF URBAN NETWORK ANALYSIS ON WALKABILITY IN DESIGN DECISION MAKING A DARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF ARCHITECTURE MAY 2017 By Kalani A. Molina DArch Committee: Hyoung-June Park, Chairperson Daniele J. Spirandelli Sean M. Baumes Keywords: Walkability, Urban planning, Computational application, Liveable community, Design decision i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The journey has been a greatly enriching experience, although long and exhaustive. Along the way, I have constantly been challenged to meet the Faculty of Architecture and my thesis committee’s expectations. However, I would not have reached this stage and be the man that I have become without the support of many. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my committee chair, Associate Professor, PhD. Hyoung-June Park, for his consistent support and constructive criticism throughout my journey at the school of Architecture. I owe him my passion for computational technology in Architecture. It has been an honor, and a valuable experience, to have had the opportunity to benefit from his teaching and to have been able to work under his skillful guidance. He has always been generous with time and knowledge throughout the whole process and has always pushed me to perform better. He constantly reminds me that hard work never fails and he is so right. I would like to deeply thank Professor Park for believing in me. You have been more than a teacher and an academic mentor. I look forward to continue working with you in the future. I would also like to acknowledge Architect, Sean M. Baumes. He is a respectful and talented architect whose professionalism and architectural thinking will serve me as a model. He has contributed to many discussions that have helped me shape this project. He was always able to follow my thinking while finding ways to keep me realistic. There is often a discrepancy between the academic world and the professional one, and his presence has greatly contributed to closing this gap. I must say that working in the same environment as you has been very instructive. I hope we will have many other opportunities to work together as colleagues. ii I also wish to thank Assistant Professor, PhD. Daniele J. Spirandelli who, as a reputable and skilled urban planner, has sparked my interest in Urban Planning since the design studio course she co-taught with Professor Hyoung- June Park in the Summer of 2015. I am extremely honored to have been able to work with both you and Professor Park. Your valuable input has challenged me to address urban planning issues. May my project contribute to the way we will plan future communities. I am highly indebted and grateful to all my teachers who have encouraged me during the course of my studies. My sincere thanks also go to WCIT Architecture for offering me unique internship opportunities and true support. You have provided me with an exemplary work environment in which I was able to access resources and gain some professional experience. I have also encountered remarkable individuals from whom I have learned so much. Thank you all for sharing your opinions on the development of my research and for welcoming me in your team. My deepest appreciation belongs to my family without whom none of this would have been possible. I am extremely grateful and proud to be where I am today and it is all thanks to you. From the days I would, as a kid, make lists of my possible vocations to the day I decided to study Architecture, you were always present and encouraging. Your support has never failed and you have always shown me unconditional love: My younger sister Kyara M. Molina-Le Caill, whose achievements have always impressed me. In some ways, you made me hope that one day I would have my own accomplishment too. My father, Ramon O. Molina, who has been my inspiration into the world iii of Architecture since day one. You have been a role model by letting me take part in your work. You have opened my eyes to the career I am now proudly embracing. Your work ethic and dedication have set the bar high. My mother Moea C. Le Caill-Molina, who always reminds me to do my best, no matter how difficult the challenges I have to face are. Thank you for the countless hours of support and discussion. Your dedication to my success is unmeasurable. You have been an excellent teacher and Academic Advisor, but most of all, an amazing mother. Thanks to the other members of my family and to my friends for their encouragement and patience. To all of you, Mahalo nui loa, Thank you very much, Māuruuru roa, Merci beaucoup, Muchas gracias! iv ABSTRACT Using the TOD neighborhoods of Waipahu on Oahu, which is comprised of two localities referred to as the West Loch Station and the Waipahu Transit Center Station, as a case study, the present work aims at investigating to what extend different aspects of the built environment may affect walkability in urban neighborhoods. By means of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), spatial, network, and statistical analyses were performed on a selected set of components of the urban built environment. Residential density, commercial density, mixed land- use, and street connectivity were measured to determine how the following 8 urban aspects —mixed-land use, small blocks, interesting architecture, building density (commercial and residential), residents’ physical activity, the impact of density and mixed-land use— affect transport mode or urban mobility. To better understand the walkability patterns around these TOD neighborhoods, we applied the method to Portland, which is known for being a walkable city. As Jeff Speck claims, for a place to be walkable, it is all a question of proper balance of uses, so it is important to look for what is missing or under-represented in an urban setting, whether it is office, retail, dining, entertainment, housing, school, recreation, worship, or parking (Speck 2013). The proposed graph-analysis framework can be used by professionals to improve planning and designing decisions to make cities more attractive and sustainable. However, it is not intended to replace the existing ways of evaluating walkability, but instead, it is to be seen as an additional layer of information to be introduced at an early stage of any project. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ii ABSTRACT . v TABLE OF CONTENTS ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������vi LIST OF FIGURES . .viii PREFACE ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������xi CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������1 CHAPTER 2. SYNTHESIS OF KNOWLEDGE . 4 MODERN ISSUES ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4 UNDERSTANDING THE MAKING OF THE CITY . 7 THE PUBLIC SPACE . 8 DESIGN SOLUTIONS . .11 CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY . 12 CONCEPT OF LIVEABILITY . 15 CONCEPT OF QUALITY OF LIFE ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 19 CONCEPT OF WALKABILITY ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������22 TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT . 26 CHAPTER 3. THE COMPUTATIONAL METHOD . 29 THE PARAMETRIC APPROACH ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������29 PLANNING TOOLS . 31 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK . 33 GRAPH THEORY . 33 GRAPH MEASURES IN URBAN PLANNING ����������������������������������������������������������34 vi THE URBAN NETWORK ANALYSIS . 36 Reach Index ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������37 Gravity Index . 37 Betweenness Index ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 38 Closeness Index ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 38 Straightness Index . 39 CHAPTER 4. CASE STUDIES . 41 AREA OF ANALYSIS ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 41 ANALYSIS ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������43 THE DATA CLASSIFICATION . 43 THE DATABASE TRANSLATED INTO GEOMETRIES . 44 THE WEST LOCH STATION: Existing vs Proposed conditions ����������������������� 45 REACH INDEX ANALYSIS ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 45 GRAVITY INDEX ANALYSIS . 46 CLOSENESS INDEX ANALYSIS . 47 STRAIGHTNESS INDEX ANALYSIS . 48 THE TRANSIT CENTER STATION: Existing vs Proposed conditions . 49 REACH INDEX ANALYSIS ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 49 GRAVITY INDEX ANALYSIS . 50 CLOSENESS INDEX ANALYSIS . 51 STRAIGHTNESS INDEX ANALYSIS . 52 CHAPTER 5. CONCLUSION ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������53 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 61 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. A conceptual framework of sustainable development (Based on Jabareen 2008, 188) . 14 Figure 2. What makes a great place (From Project For Public Spaces 2009) ������������18 Figure 3. Four qualities of life (Adapted from Veenhoven
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