Ergonomics of contemporary urban necropolises

Abstract

The contemporary ergonomics can accuraely describe psychophysical capabilities of the human body, thus greatly contributing to the process of improving the living quality and parameters. Many everyday activities, relating to the man's work, leisure, communication, or social relations, are subject to ergonomic rules and principles, and the same is true of urban and architectural space of urbanized centres as a material space of such activities. It is here that man actively satisfies his needs to engineer his space and facilities necessary for him as an individual - e.g. dwelling houses, and as community - e.g. necropolises. Modern forms of spatial arrangement of necropolises search for solutions which will not only provide a rational - ergonomic material shape of the burial place, but also satisfy mental needs of the man connected with the burial, funeral, cult of the dead, visits to the cemetery, irrespective of the man's age and ability. Among important problems to be solved we should pay special attention to the question of accessibility of the cemetery space to the elderly and the disabled. Therefore all elements constituting the structure of necropolis must allow for ergonomic designing factors. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.