Predicting Preferences for Pedestrian Bridges in Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Pedestrian bridges as urban infrastructurs, could play a critical role toimprove aesthetic qualityof urban areas. In Tehran, most of the pedestrian bridges are built in a similar structure regardles to the visual characteristics of their environments. However, many studies haveconfirmed the importance of harmony between aesthetic qualityof the bridges and their context. This study attempts to identify the role of context in aesthetic perception ofpedestrian bridges and to identify the visual attributes that affect the preferences through a photo-questionnaire survey. Therespondentswere 384 students from Tehran's universities and they were asked to rate 34 scenes of similar structure pedestrian bridges in different urban settings. Data were analyzed by using factor analysis to reveal preferences dimensions and the factors that may affect the preferences dimensions. In addition, the participants were asked their opinions regarding attributes that they perceived important for pedestian bridges aesthetic. Subsequently, a multiple regression analysis was employed to examine relationship between preferences and aesthetic attributes.The triagulation of results from preference dimensions and multiple regression analysis reviled the importance of visual attributes in setings of the pedestrian bridges and underlined the role of context in the aesthetic preferences of pedestrian bridges. These factors should be considered during planning and design processes in order to improve aesthetic qualities of pedestrian bridges in urban landscape.