Mapping the space between buildings using Open Street Map (GISRUK2022)

Hannah Gumble and Nicolas Palominos and I put together this poster for the 2022 GIS Research UK (GISRUK2022) conference. It came about through our shared interest in developing metrics of how street space is allocated and used in cities. It seems that the urgent need to shift travel behaviour towards more sustainable and active modes will place increasing pressure on urban street space. Pedestrians, e-scooters, electric vehicles as well as the businesses located along the road all require certain functionality resulting in a broad set of needs that streets should be designed to meet.

The analysis presented in this poster investigates how the Open Street Map data model and the map itself can be used to measure these “spaces between buildings”. The poster presents some initial analysis that demonstrates the limited availability of granular map data recording the presence of pavement infrastructure. The work also draws a link between the way streets are represented in GIS and the functionality that we expect from them. Sustainable streets require more nuanced quantitative representation due to their multiple functions.

Finally, I’d like to thank the GISRUK2022 organisers for a hugely welcoming and inspiring conference and to the submission reviewers for their comments which improved the work.

Me and Hannah presenting our poster at GISRUK2022 in Liverpool. Sadly Nicolas couldn't join us.