Ergonomic Assessment of the Urban Environment: walkability and pedestrians as modifying agents in urban redesign of the Consolidated Urbanization Zone in the City of São Paulo

• Grant number: 23/15898-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning - Architecture and Urbanism Technology
• Principal Investigator: Roberta Consentino Kronka Mülfarth
• Grantee: Andre Eiji Sato
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FAU). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Considering urban planning processes and actions largely conditioned by highway policies, São Paulo 's urban public spaces have not explored and still do not explore their own constructive potential to encourage walkability for their users. Since walkability has a significant influence on well-being and quality of urban life, it is extremely important to create a tool that supports strategic planning and identifies the points necessary for the microscale of city spaces to become more attractive to its own inhabitants. Thus, this research project is based on the preliminary hypothesis that users' spatial perception is a conditioning factor for local micro-walkability and ergonomics is capable of highlighting the qualities of the built environment that are involved in this process. That said, this research project aims to propose an ergonomic assessment to identify which walkability parameters are most relevant to condition the microscale's comfort and well-being of pedestrians in the existing and consolidated streetscapes of the City of São Paulo - having in mind the current review of the city's Strategic Master Plan. The method to be developed is based on questionnaires and is innovative as it links the use of virtual reality technology as a tool. It is expected, therefore, to promote guidelines for public policies on walking mobility and to show that ergonomics has the potential to contribute to the area of Urban Planning by offering innovative tools for evaluating the urban built environment in favor of the well-being and comfort of users.