United States Department of Transportation
i
Building a Sense of Place in an Information Era: Accessibility, Connectivity and Travel
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2017-05-01
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[PDF-20.54 MB]
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TRIS Online Accession Number:1641093
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Edition:Final Report, June 1, 2015 to March 31, 2017
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Abstract:This research work examines the relationships among: (i) Sense of Place (SOP); (ii) non-motorized sustainable travel choices and accessibility; and (iii) adoption and use of information and communication technologies (ICT). A guiding principle in designing the built environment for sustainability and livability is the latent construct of Sense of Place (SOP) which leads visitors to perceive and associate a strong identity or character with a particular location. For SOP, the literature agrees on the following characteristics associated with the place: (i) physical characteristics; (ii) user perceived affects and meanings; (iii) human activities taking place; and social interactions. Integral to these defining dimensions is the perception of accessibility of the space, which is likely impacted by widespread adoption of mobile ICT, such as smartphones and tablets. In an information era, the ability of ICT to provide ubiquitous information and communication across multiple timeframes and geographies has expanded interaction with the location to include both physical and virtual interactions. Additionally, visitors can engage with the location pre and post-trip through information acquisition. Further contributing to developing a sense of place are the modes of access; non-motorized travel modes that allow more direct exposure to the location may have a more positive influence on sense of place, relative to private modes, such as personal autos. With respect to this context, the research work addresses the following research questions: 1) Does access to and use of ICT facilitate Sense of Place, and if so, through which mechanisms do they operate and function? 2) Do non-motorized or public travel modes, such as bikes or walking, and perceived accessibility of a setting impact Sense of Place? To address these research questions a combination of survey instruments and econometric models are developed and estimated. The final findings indicate that while Sense of Place is statistically linked to non-motorized travel and visits, and in general, travel that allows visitors to experience their surroundings, the effects of ICT are less pronounced. Furthermore, sites that have less conformity in design lead to more uniform attitudinal responses, with respect to SOP. In contrast, designs that are more organic, lead to a wider range of SOP attitudinal response, which span both positive and negative perceptions.
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