Rethinking Walkability: Exploring the Relationship Between Urban Form and Social Cohesion
Video
Team Information
Team Members
Andrew Sonta, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, The Data Science Institute, Columbia University
Faculty Advisors:
Xiaofan (Fred) Jiang, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, Columbia Engineering
Andrew Smyth, Professor of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
Abstract
In recent years, separate areas of research have investigated the importance of walkable urban design and socal cohesion—one or both exhibiting environmental, social, and public health benefits. In an emerging area of research, scholars have hypothesized that urban design can influence the strength of social cohesion in communities, but this relationship lacks strong empirical evidence. In this work, we take a nuanced, data-driven approach that breaks down different design factors related to overall walkability and investigates their impact on neighborhood-level social cohesion. To test this hypothesis, we relied on two primary data sources: the US EPA’s smart location database for built environment data, and an open survey dataset with data from 5 cities for social cohesion and demographic data. Our statistical approach leveraged Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares, and we found that diversity is positively correlated with cohesion, while density and connectedness are negatively correlated with cohesion. These results shed empirical light on competing theories in urban design, with implications for designers, planners, and policy makers hoping to create more socially cohesive communities.
Team Lead Contact
Andrew Sonta: as6321@columbia.edu
