Environmental Factors,Perceived Distance and Spatial Behavior

Abstract

In this study the author assesses the effects of certain environmental factors on distance cognition and spatial behavior. Thirty-three university faculty members who had parked at one of two garages were asked to indicate their destination from the garage. When a destination was approximately equidistant from both garages, the number of buildings, nodes, landmarks, environmental changes, and intersections of the routes from each garage to the destination were compared. The routes from the garage selected had significantly fewer buildings than did the unselected routes. The route taken from the garage to the office and an alternative route of similar distance from the same garage to the office were compared. The destination came into view earlier on the chosen route than on the alternate route.