Pedestrians’ mental satisfaction's relationship with physical characteristics on sidewalks using analytical hierarchy process: case study of Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The aim of the current study is an examination of the relationship between the existing physical characteristics of sidewalks in Tehran, Iran, and pedestrians’ mental satisfaction. In order to successfully achieve this, physical and mental sidewalk characteristics were determined via expert elicitation and pedestrian investigations. Subsequently, 40 photographs of sidewalks located in Tehran were selected from all taken images, based upon photographic techniques; these were used to elicit data from 514 respondents via formally developed questionnaires. An analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was employed to analyze collated data. Results indicate that mental satisfaction is directly correlated with observed physical condition of sidewalks. It is concluded that sensitivity analyses such as those used in this study may be suitable for future optimization of sidewalk construction and maintenance; the presented approach may represent an appropriate model for increasing pedestrians’ satisfaction and is thus potentially of use to urban and peri-urban planners.

Keywords:

• Sidewalk
• Pedestrian
• Mental characteristics
• Physical characteristics
• Satisfaction
• AHP
• Sensitivity analysis