Walkability explorer: Application to a case-study

Abstract

In a few recent papers we presented a methodology and the related planning and design support tool, Walkability Explorer, for the evaluation of walkability of places which are relevant for people's capabilities. The method is an attempt to move beyond the known approaches to evaluating walkability based on the analysis of proximity to urban places and on macro urban and socioeconomic factors, because it conceptualises walkability as the effective capability to walk offered by the environment thanks to micro-urban characteristics. It evaluates how the urban environment is conducive to walk by combining three elements: the destinations/opportunities reachable by foot, their walking distance and the quality of the path to these destinations. Following this approach, here we present and discuss an example assessment of walkability for the city of Alghero (Italy).