Mapping the In-Motion Emotional Urban Experiences: An Evidence-Based Method

Barbara Ester Adele Piga (), Nicola Rainisio, Gabriele Stancato and Marco Boffi
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Barbara Ester Adele Piga: Laboratorio di Simulazione Urbana Fausto Curti, Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
Nicola Rainisio: Department of Cultural Heritage and Environment, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
Gabriele Stancato: Laboratorio di Simulazione Urbana Fausto Curti, Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
Marco Boffi: Department of Cultural Heritage and Environment, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-26

Abstract: Urban settings affect the experience of people in places and the measurement of such urban experiences is the focus of this article. The ‘experiential Environmental Impact Assessment—exp-EIA©’ method and its application to the Città Studi area in Milan are presented. The method couples urban studies with environmental psychology and ICT for educational purposes with a sample of architecture students divided in two groups (N = 18). Experiential data are collected via a dedicated app installed on the participants’ mobile devices, and an automatic data processing and analysis produces spatialized results creating maps of the overall urban experience. In particular, the emotional reaction of participants through a ten-minute walking path is assessed. A group activity focused on the link between urban features and subjective evaluation of places by participants is combined with the results obtained via the application of the circumplex model of affect. Results show that the path is characterized by two main emotional experiences, passing from a pleasant to an unpleasant experience within the short walk in both groups, offering some insights on the urban design of the area. The results are part of the teaching process to increase students’ awareness about experiential design, yet the process is conceived also as a tool for professionals.

Keywords: emotions; behavioral effect; experiential walk; design education; affect; ICT; participatory app; atmosphere; environmental characteristics; urban design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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