Movement and Place Team

SYSTRA’s Movement and Place team are developing approaches to better understand how the nature of walking networks influences movement through our towns and cities.

This is a work in progress and whilst the final outcome may differ from that shown, it shows how powerful modelling tools can be to understanding more about how people move and how planners and decision-makers can respond through targeted interventions.

SYSTRA’s Movement and Place team are developing approaches to better understand how the nature of walking networks influences movement through our towns and cities. This is a work in progress and whilst the final outcome may differ from that shown, it shows how powerful modelling tools can be to understanding more about how people move and how planners and decision-makers can respond through targeted interventions.

The image shown is of the pedestrian network in Birmingham city centre, and displays the relative importance of road and path sections within the overall walking network. The ‘warmer’ the colour, the more frequently the segment forms part of all the possible walking routes within the network. The red or orange segments may indicate high footfall potential, interesting for retailers or those planning public realm interventions. Alternatively, it can highlight the impact of severances, a lack of redundancy or other constraints on movement in the network.

The image highlights the barrier that Great Charles Street and the A38 form between the north of city centre and the Jewellery Quarter. More striking is the barrier formed by the A38 Suffolk and Bristol Streets along the City Centre’s western edge.

For more information on the work of our Movement and Place team, contact Martin Parretti mparretti@systra.com or Emily Walsh ewalsh@systra.com