Associations between sense of place and the geometric shape complexity of corresponding self-reported spatial footprints from Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract

This article investigates how people translate the complex concept of sense of place into reductionist geospatial footprints. Utilising a map-supported survey conducted in Lisbon, statistical shape complexity measures, and logistic regression, we show that the number of mapped polygonal footprint vertices correlates with the sense-of-place dimensions of place identity and place attachment. Furthermore, we show that places to which people connect particularly close lead to more complex forms of shape complexity beyond the number of mapped points. Our findings contribute to the discourse on place-based information and to an improved understanding of the nexus between place and its geometric representation.