Study of the influence of urban landscape features on pedestrian perception and walking comfort in cities PhD Yacine Mansouri

Study of the influence of urban landscape features on pedestrian perception and walking comfort in cities.

© @ULiège

In a context of accelerating climate emergency driven by urban expansion and intense human activity, cities are at the heart of a dual crisis—both ecological and public health-related. United Nations projections highlight a worrying trend: after surpassing 54% in 2014, the global urban population could reach 66% by 2050 (United Nations, 2014). This spatial and demographic shift is accompanied by a heavy legacy: a mobility model centered around private cars, leading to air pollution, urban sprawl, and territorial fragmentation.

This dependence on automobiles also fuels a silent yet alarming epidemic: physical inactivity. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 1.8 billion adults already suffer the health consequences of sedentary lifestyles—obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. This figure could reach 35% of the global population by 2030 (WHO, 2022). In response, active modes of transport—particularly walking—are emerging as multifaceted solutions to the defining challenges of the 21st century.

Far more than a mere mode of transport, walking represents an inclusive, low-carbon, and profoundly transformative practice. It effectively bridges three major Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): improving public health (SDG 3), reducing urban carbon footprints (SDG 13), and building resilient cities through the reclaiming of public space (SDG 11). Yet its development is hindered by an urban paradigm still dominated by speed and automobile efficiency, rather than human-scale experience.

This thesis argues that the quality of pedestrian pathways cannot be reduced to technical standards or safety imperatives alone. It defends a holistic and sensitive approach to public space, encompassing often-overlooked dimensions: historical and cultural layers, natural elements, and multisensory experiences—soundscapes, smells, and thermal sensations—that directly influence comfort, perception, and the appeal of walking environments.

This research draws upon the principles of sustainable urban development, as outlined in ISO standards 37120 (Indicators for city services and quality of life) and 37101 (Sustainable development in communities—Management systems), while also engaging with the values promoted by the International Charter for Walking, initiated by the Walk21 network. This global initiative advocates for walkable cities as a foundation for healthier, more inclusive, and more enjoyable urban living.

Embedded in this international and interdisciplinary perspective, the thesis explores how the multiple dimensions of urban landscapes—physical, cultural, natural, and sensory—shape pedestrians’ perceptions and daily experiences, ultimately determining the quality of walking in cities. Through this analysis, the research seeks to inform and guide urban and territorial policies toward more inclusive, sustainable, and health-promoting models of city-making.

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