Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Pedestrian Count Data for Thermal Environmental Planning in Street Canyons

In this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of pedestrian behavior in street spaces using pedestrian count data—specifically, the number of pedestrians passing in front of infrared sensors installed throughout the downtown area. The analysis focused on three main questions: (1) whe...

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Main Authors: Hideki Takebayashi, Taichi Hayakawa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/5/504
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author Hideki Takebayashi
Taichi Hayakawa
author_facet Hideki Takebayashi
Taichi Hayakawa
author_sort Hideki Takebayashi
collection DOAJ
description In this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of pedestrian behavior in street spaces using pedestrian count data—specifically, the number of pedestrians passing in front of infrared sensors installed throughout the downtown area. The analysis focused on three main questions: (1) whether the thermal environment affects pedestrian behavior, (2) how to characterize the spatiotemporal patterns of pedestrian activity, and (3) how to effectively present the results to urban planners and designers. A temporal and spatial analysis method was examined using hourly pedestrian count data over one year at more than 100 locations in the street canyon. The temporal characteristics of the pedestrian count data were classified into weekday and weekend clusters according to the peak hours within a day. The spatial characteristics of the pedestrian count data were clearly defined by distance from the station, office district, and commercial district, according to peak commuting, shopping, etc. Results from principal component analysis and cluster analysis did not reveal a significant influence of the thermal environment on the temporal variation in pedestrian counts. Instead, the data suggested that weekday versus weekend distinctions were the primary determinants of daily and annual patterns, while seasonal and weather-related factors had relatively minor effects. The analytical approach developed in this study represents a valuable and practical contribution that may be applicable to other urban contexts as well.
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institution Kabale University
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spelling doaj-art-b4f25c17eb6244f3a5c8f010d9a056562025-08-20T03:47:53ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-04-0116550410.3390/atmos16050504Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Pedestrian Count Data for Thermal Environmental Planning in Street CanyonsHideki Takebayashi0Taichi Hayakawa1Department of Architecture, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Rokkodai 1-1, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, JapanDepartment of Architecture, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Rokkodai 1-1, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, JapanIn this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of pedestrian behavior in street spaces using pedestrian count data—specifically, the number of pedestrians passing in front of infrared sensors installed throughout the downtown area. The analysis focused on three main questions: (1) whether the thermal environment affects pedestrian behavior, (2) how to characterize the spatiotemporal patterns of pedestrian activity, and (3) how to effectively present the results to urban planners and designers. A temporal and spatial analysis method was examined using hourly pedestrian count data over one year at more than 100 locations in the street canyon. The temporal characteristics of the pedestrian count data were classified into weekday and weekend clusters according to the peak hours within a day. The spatial characteristics of the pedestrian count data were clearly defined by distance from the station, office district, and commercial district, according to peak commuting, shopping, etc. Results from principal component analysis and cluster analysis did not reveal a significant influence of the thermal environment on the temporal variation in pedestrian counts. Instead, the data suggested that weekday versus weekend distinctions were the primary determinants of daily and annual patterns, while seasonal and weather-related factors had relatively minor effects. The analytical approach developed in this study represents a valuable and practical contribution that may be applicable to other urban contexts as well.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/5/504pedestrian count datathermal environmentstreet canyontemporal analysisspatial analysis
spellingShingle Hideki Takebayashi
Taichi Hayakawa
Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Pedestrian Count Data for Thermal Environmental Planning in Street Canyons
Atmosphere
pedestrian count data
thermal environment
street canyon
temporal analysis
spatial analysis
title Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Pedestrian Count Data for Thermal Environmental Planning in Street Canyons
title_full Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Pedestrian Count Data for Thermal Environmental Planning in Street Canyons
title_fullStr Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Pedestrian Count Data for Thermal Environmental Planning in Street Canyons
title_full_unstemmed Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Pedestrian Count Data for Thermal Environmental Planning in Street Canyons
title_short Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Pedestrian Count Data for Thermal Environmental Planning in Street Canyons
title_sort temporal and spatial analysis of pedestrian count data for thermal environmental planning in street canyons
topic pedestrian count data
thermal environment
street canyon
temporal analysis
spatial analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/5/504
work_keys_str_mv AT hidekitakebayashi temporalandspatialanalysisofpedestriancountdataforthermalenvironmentalplanninginstreetcanyons
AT taichihayakawa temporalandspatialanalysisofpedestriancountdataforthermalenvironmentalplanninginstreetcanyons