Ph.D

Mr Shakibamanesh Amir will present his Ph.D thesis on " The Effects of Spatial Configuration and Physical Structureon Pedestrians' Subjective Experience of Time Perception Using Virtual Reality"at 15:00 P.M on 15  September 2013 under the guidance of Dr.Behzadfar Mostafa, Dr.Alalhesabi Mehran.

Abstract:

One of the arguments associated with the perception of space while moving that has not received due attention in urban development and urban design studies is that of pedestrians' subjective time perception. Indeed, in many cases, pedestrians perceive time needed to pass a distance shorter or longer than the real time needed to pass it. Thus, time can become one of the most important perceptual aspects. The concept of time discussed in this research is "perceived (subjective) time" which has obvious differences with real time. In this regard, a wide range of factors (such as individual conditions, the socio- cultural context, purpose and motivation for presence in space, familiarity with the area, etc.) affect the observer's perception of the duration of time moving in the urban environment and can change it. But, the researcher's main objective of this study- which has been neglected by urban planners and designers- is the effect of physical-spatial structure of built environment on pedestrians' perception of time in urban space. In fact, it is hypothesized in this study that there is a logical relationship between the compositions and spatial-physical arrangements on observer's subjective perception of time while moving

One of the important issues that distinguishes this study from previous ones is its emphasis on the analysis of physical-spatial environment assuming the person under study is in the real three-dimensional or pseudo- real environment, and avoiding a two-dimensional approach based solely on the map. In fact, since this study needs to examine different types of physical-spatial structures from a time perspective, and yet, the possible involvement of other non- physical factors affecting people's estimate of time should be prevented, the use of real urban environment in the study was limited. To address this issue, the researcher uses virtual reality techniques to maximize similarity between observers' perceptual conditions and the real environment (in terms of three-dimensional view possibility, provision of human visual angle in the physical area being tested, moving on the path, etc.). This makes it possible to make dynamic and continuous changes in the physical-spatial variables under study in a quasi- real context and to control other variables affecting the time variable.

On the other hand, since analysis of the impact of physical environment on subjective perception of time can include a wide range of physical-spatial arrangements. Therefore, for a systematic and logical review of physical-spatial structures, the researcher has tried to suggest a comprehensive typology of physical-spatial layers perceived through the sense of sight while moving, in order to provide a better condition for analyses associated with three-dimensional visual scenes. These are used for classified test designs used to measure and evaluate time.

Using the above typology and the concourse of its three-fold central components (layered structure of the visual scene, macro spatial configuration (schemata) of environment and micro physical components comprising spatial qualities of the environment), different physical-spatial compositions and arrangements were created and provided the opportunity for the researcher to analyze the effects of nine defined physical-spatial structures (from among all the possible scenarios) in pedestrians' subjective time perception in a virtual environment .

The results support the hypothesis of logical relationship between certain physical-spatial layouts (arrangements) and the observer's subjective time perception while moving in urban spaces. The logical relationships between nine configurations studied in the thesis are presented as part of the practical results of this study.

Keywords: time perception, subjective time, physical structure, spatial configuration, virtual reality