Abstract:We propose a decision-aiding evaluation procedure (i) for classifying road crossings based on their impact on walkability and, subsequently, (ii) for prioritising street improvements, in urban-rural fringe areas. In the peripheral urban-rural fringes, pedestrian mobility is usually less developed and people generally depend more on cars for their everyday chores. Partly this is inevitable given the structural features and supply of services and activities in such areas, but part is due to a frequent neglect of pedestrian mobility in planning and urban design. Measures to improve this state of affairs can include the design of more pedestrian-friendly environments offering to potential users a greater level of security, comfort and convenience when walking to their designated destinations. Our evaluation procedure combines a walkability assessment methodology with the ELECTRE TRI rating procedure, in order to assist planners and decision makers in designing physical streets to enhance the continuity, safety and quality of pedestrian paths. Improving the walking accessibility in the fringe areas of towns is a way to reduce the physical and perceptual distance which separates these contexts from the rest of the city, thus leading to a progressive integration of urban functions.

No abstract

No abstract

Abstract. Position tracking technologies developed in the last decade are a valuable addition to the traditional toolbox for data collection, as they offer the opportunity to gather a great amount of unprecedented information on tourists behaviour. In particular, they allow to collect detailed information on spatial and temporal behaviour with respect to different categories/profiles of tourists. We present the results of a survey of tourists' spatial behaviour coupling GPS movement tracking and questionnaires, and furthermore discuss how this kind of studies may prove useful in providing guidelines for territorial, tourist and transportation policies.

No abstract