Analysis of Large-Scale Residential Development on Walking Environments in Surrounding Neighborhoods: A Before-and-After Comparison of Apartment Complex Developments in Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Pedestrian mobility is an indicator of urban sustainability insofar as it affects walkability and social cohesion. This research focused on the relationship between large-scale residential development and the walking environments of surrounding neighborhoods in Seoul, Korea. Large-scale residential developments, such as apartment complexes, might disrupt pedestrian walking networks fully or partly, causing the separation of urban spaces and social disconnection. This paper conducted before-and-after analysis of apartment complex development on the walking environments of surrounding neighborhoods using the Urban Network Analysis (UNA) tool and Rhinoceros three-dimensional (3D) software. With UNA measures such as reach, gravity, straightness, and betweenness, this study examined three apartment complexes constructed between 2010 and 2017 in Seoul. Analysis results indicated that large-scale residential development in existing urban environments is likely to hinder walking environments in surrounding neighborhoods. This study suggests policy implications to improve walking environments in surrounding communities when large-scale apartment complexes are developed in existing urban environments.