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Abstract
Social interaction is a key component of urban sustainability, but its spatial measurement is difficult using existing off-site GIS data. This paper reports on a new method of measuring social interaction using a combination of mobile technology and parametric software, which was tested on two of Barcelona’s new semi-pedestrian superilles. The research is introduced within a theoretical framework for social interaction and cohesion adapted from a broader index of sustainability. It shows how on-site data collection can be used to measure the capacity of urban spaces to support social interaction. It is argued that the combination of mobile technologies, GIS data, and predetermined indicators of the capacity of spaces to support positive human experiences offers an important complement to more traditional methods of recording and measuring the qualities of urban spaces.
Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge the contribution of dedicated research assistants Robert Ryan Kiesler, Jiawei Vincent Mai, Julia Frost and Daniel Matallana-Mejia within the Urban Interactions Lab and the students of the Barcelona Urban Design Program for their invaluable assistance data gathering and methods testing. I would like to also thank Karen Franck and Kevin Nute for their editing and mentorship support.