Public open spaces (POSs) play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of urban life, particularly in hill cities where challenging topography influences accessibility and movement patterns. Space syntax can aid in understanding the route choices of users, evaluating certain routes for improved walkability, and understanding pedestrian behaviour in urban environments, among others. Previous space syntax studies primarily focused on a two-dimensional spatial understanding of cities, but there is a scarcity of studies that explore a three-dimensional perspective. It is observed that the route choices and options in hill cities vary from those of cities in the plains. Therefore, this article intends to study the routes and pedestrian choices to access POS, taking the case of Aizawl, Mizoram (India). Space syntax is used as a methodology for the analysis of the accessibility of open spaces. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of mobility behaviour in complex urban environments and offers practical insights for planners and policymakers in developing sustainable and inclusive urban networks and accessible public spaces in hill cities.
Aizawl Development Authority. (2012). Master plan for Aizawl vision 2030: Vol. II.
2.
AlexanderC., IshikawaS., SilversteinM., JacobsonM., Fiksdahl-KingI., & AngelS. (1977). A pattern language.pdf (p. 1171). Oxford University Press.
3.
AsamiY., KubatA. S., KitagawaK., & IidaS.-I. (2003). Introducing the third dimension on Space Syntax: Application on the historical Istanbul. In 4th International Space Syntax Symposium, January 2003 (pp. 48.1–48.19). University College London. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237741202_INTRODUCING_THIRD_DIMENSION_ON_SPACE_SYNTAX_APPLICATION_ON_THE_HISTORICAL_ISTANBUL1#fullTextFileContent
4.
CarmonaM. (2010). Contemporary public space, part two: Classification. Journal of Urban Design, 15(2), 157–173. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574801003638111
5.
CrouseD. L., PinaultL., ChristidisT., LavigneE., ThomsonE. M., & VilleneuveP. J. (2021). Residential greenness and indicators of stress and mental well-being in a Canadian national-level survey. Environmental Research, 192(September2020), 110267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110267
6.
Directorate of Census Operations Mizoram. (2011). District Census Handbook - Aizawl. https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/874
7.
EdwardsN., HooperP., TrappG. S. A. A., BullF., BoruffB., & Giles-CortiB. (2013). Development of a Public Open Space Desktop Auditing Tool (POSDAT): A remote sensing approach. Applied Geography, 38(1), 22–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.11.010
8.
GarauC., & AnnunziataA. (2022). Public open spaces: Connecting people, squares and streets by measuring the usability through the Villanova district in Cagliari, Italy. Transportation Research Procedia, 60(2021), 314–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2021.12.041
9.
GroenewegenP. P., van den BergA. E., MaasJ., VerheijR. A., & de VriesS. (2012). Is a green residential environment better for health? If so, why?Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 102(5), 996–1003. https://doi.org/10.1080/00045608.2012.674899
10.
HanS., SongD., XuL., YeY., YanS., ShiF., ZhangY., LiuX., & DuH. (2022). Behaviour in public open spaces: A systematic review of studies with quantitative research methods. Building and Environment, 223(March). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109444
11.
HillierB., & IidaS. (2005). Network and psychological effects: A theory of urban movement. International Conference on Spatial Information Theory, 1987, 475–490. https://doi.org/10.1007/11556114_30
12.
JiangB., ClaramuntC., & KlarqvistB. (2000). Integration of space syntax into GIS for modelling urban spaces. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2(3–4), 161–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0303-2434(00)85010-2
13.
Jyotika, & ChandiramaniJ. (2025). Towards sustainable urban mobility—An analysis of electric rickshaw ecosystem of Delhi, India. Environment and Urbanization ASIA, 09754253251331936. https://doi.org/10.1177/09754253251331936
14.
KarimiK. (2018). Space syntax: Consolidation and transformation of an urban research field. Journal of Urban Design, 23(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2018.1403177
15.
KoohsariM. J., KaczynskiA. T., Giles-CortiB., & KarakiewiczJ. A. (2013). Effects of access to public open spaces on walking: Is proximity enough?Landscape and Urban Planning, 117, 92–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.04.020
16.
KoohsariM. J., KaczynskiA. T., McCormackG. R., & SugiyamaT. (2014). Using space syntax to assess the built environment for physical activity: Applications to research on parks and public open spaces. Leisure Sciences, 36(2), 206–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2013.856722
17.
KoohsariM. J., KarakiewiczJ. A., & KaczynskiA. T. (2013). Public open space and walking: The role of proximity, perceptual qualities of the surrounding built environment, and street configuration. Environment and Behavior, 45(6), 706–736. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916512440876
18.
KoohsariM. J., SugiyamaT., MavoaS., VillanuevaK., BadlandH., Giles-CortiB., & OwenN. (2016). Street network measures and adults’ walking for transport: Application of space syntax. Health & Place, 38, 89–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.12.009
19.
LackeyJ. L., & KaczynskiA. T. (2009). Correspondence of perceived vs. objective proximity to parks and their relationship to park-based physical activity. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 6, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-6-53
20.
LalramsangiV., KhiangteL., & LallianthangaA. (2022). Manifestation of cultural and settlement patterns of vernacular Mizo villages in modern neighborhoods of Mizoram, India. ISVS E-Journal, 9(3), 86–102.
21.
LyuY., Abd MalekM. I., Ja‘afarN. H., SimaY., HanZ., & LiuZ. (2023). Unveiling the potential of space syntax approach for revitalizing historic urban areas: A case study of Yushan Historic District, China. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 12(6), 1144–1156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2023.08.004
22.
Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC). (2018). Hazard risk and vulnerability analysis of eight district headquarters of Mizoram: Aizawl city. https://mirsac.mizoram.gov.in/projects/completed-projects/
23.
PeponisJ., RossC., & RashidM. (1997). The structure of urban space, movement and co-presence: The case of Atlanta. Geoforum, 28(3–4), 341–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0016-7185(97)00016-x
24.
PeponisJ., & WinemanJ. (2002). Spatial structure of environment and behavior. In BechtelR. B. & ChurchmanA. (Eds.), Handbook of environmental psychology (pp. 271–291). Wiley.
25.
PuckettR. R. (2009). Multi‐agent crowd behaviour simulation for tsunami evacuation. Masters Thesis, Department of Information and Computer Sciences, University of Hawaii. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_q=Multi-Agent+Crowd+Behavior+Simulation+for+Tsunami+Evacuation
26.
RafiemanzelatR., EmadiM. I., & KamaliA. J. (2017). City sustainability: The influence of walkability on built environments. Transportation Research Procedia, 24, 97–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2017.05.074
27.
State Investment Project Management and Implementation Unit. (2010). Draft EIA report “Development of Landfill Site for Aizawl City” [F. No.10-73/2010-IA-III].
28.
SugiyamaT., FrancisJ., MiddletonN. J., OwenN., & Giles-CortiB. (2010). Associations between recreational walking and attractiveness, size, and proximity of neighborhood open spaces. American Journal of Public Health, 100(9), 1752–1757. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2009.182006
29.
ThillJ. C., DaoT. H. D., & ZhouY. (2011). Traveling in the three-dimensional city: Applications in route planning, accessibility assessment, location analysis and beyond. Journal of Transport Geography, 19(3), 405–421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2010.11.007
30.
UCL Space Syntax. (2020). Spatial form analysis. https://www.spacesyntax.online/applying-space-syntax/urban-methods-2/spatial-form-analysis/
31.
Van NesA., & YamuC. (2021). Introduction to space syntax in urban studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59140-3
32.
VolchenkovD., & BlanchardP. (2007). City space syntax as a complex network. http://arxiv.org/abs/0709.4356
33.
WangJ., ZhuQ., & MaoQ. (2007, January). The three-dimensional extension of space syntax. In Proceedings of the Space Syntax Symposium (pp. 1–16). Istanbul: İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi.
34.
YesilM., KaraborkR. N., OzkulV. E., & GuzelM. (2024). Analysing the relationship between spatial configuration and land use of the Ordu city with the space syntax approach. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management, 32(4), 305–316. https://doi.org/10.3846/jeelm.2024.22357
