[HOMO] FORMICIDAE

[HOMO] FORMICIDAE A CASE STUDY OF PEDESTRIAN BEHAVIOR ON LSU’S CAMPUS

[HOMO] FORMICIDAE On a walk across LSU’s campus, I was struck by the behaviors of a colony of ants and how their behaviors echoed some of my own. I traced my own path through campus that day, which had twisted and turned enough to resemble a tunnel in an ant farm, and began to think critically about the way so many pedestrians move through campus every day between classes, like thousands of tiny ants tunneling aimlessly through an ant hill, lugging weight along on our backs.

[HOMO] FORMICIDAE is a collection of infographics based on data collected regarding the behaviors of pedestrians on LSU’s campus, and the similarities in the behaviors of humans (genus: HOMO) and ants (genus: FORMIDICAE).

40 LSU students (20 residents and 20 commuters) aged 18-23 were surveyed about their walk to and from classes and habits they exhibit as they walk across campus. The students were asked to answer QUALITA TIVE PEDESTRIAN DATA

whether they ALWAYS, SOMETIMES or NEVER exhibit the following behaviors: 1

I walk the same path to and from classes every day.

2

I prefer to take the elevator rather than the stairs whenever possible.

3

I’m aware of my surroundings as I am walking rather than looking down or at my phone.

4

I prefer to walk on campus alone rather than with a friend.

5

I walk at a fast pace on campus rather than a slow, leisurely one.

6

I will stop and talk to someone I know if I see them on my walk to class.

7

I feel that LSU’s campus is easy to navigate and properly accommodates pedestrian traffic.

8

I enjoy my walk to class every day.

PEDESTRIAN BEHAVIORS

ALWAYS SOMETIMES NEVER

COMPARATIVE PEDESTRIAN DATA 1

I walk the same path to and from classes every day.

2

I prefer to take the elevator rather than the stairs whenever possible.

3

I’m aware of my surroundings as I am walking rather than looking down or at my phone.

4

I prefer to walk on campus alone rather than with a friend.

5

I walk at a fast pace on campus rather than a slow, leisurely one.

6

I will stop and talk to someone I know if I see them on my walk to class.

7

I feel that LSU’s campus is easy to navigate and properly accommodates pedestrian traffic.

8

I enjoy my walk to class every day.

PEDESTRIAN BEHAVIORS

RESIDENT STUDENTS

COMMUTER STUDENTS

ALWAYS SOMETIMES NEVER

HA Y D E N , 2 1

3 mi.

1.9 mi.

0 mi.

FIELD OF STUDY

DISTA N C E

CASE STUDIES

18 lb.

FLIGHTS CLIMBED

WEIGHT O F L O A D

25 STEPS

Hayden is a junior graphic design student who commutes to campus every day.

Because the majority of Hayden’s classes are held in the same building, his path is condensed to a smaller area, and his total distance is relatively shorter. Likewise, his art-intensive workload requires few textbooks, resulting in a lighter load than average.

VICTORIA, 19

3 mi.

2.7 mi.

0 mi.

FIELD OF STUDY

DISTA N C E

CASE STUDIES

20 lb.

FLIGHTS CLIMBED

WEIGHT O F L O A D

25 STEPS

Victoria is a freshman biology student who lives in a dormitory on the north side of campus. Victoria’s classes are spread throughout campus, resulting in a longer distance across a much more sprawling area and a high number of steps. Victoria lives on the 5th floor of her dormitory and has a number of classes above ground, resulting in a relatively high number of flights climbed.

KA T I E , 2 1

3 mi.

2.1 mi.

0 mi.

FIELD OF STUDY

DISTA N C E

CASE STUDIES

14 lb.

FLIGHTS CLIMBED

WEIGHT O F L O A D

25 STEPS

Katie is a junior architecture student who lives off campus, but walks from her apartment just north of campus. Because Katie’s classes are all within close proximity, her commute is relegated to a relatively smaller area, but the walk from her apartment off campus to her on-campus studio comprises more than half of her daily commute and results in an above average total distance. Because Katie has a permanent studio, she does not carry a large number of books or supplies, resulting in a very low weight of load beared.

JA C K , 1 8

3 mi.

1.6 mi.

0 mi.

FIELD OF STUDY

DISTA N C E

CASE STUDIES

16 lb.

FLIGHTS CLIMBED

WEIGHT O F L O A D

25 STEPS

Jack is a sophomore business student who lives in a dormitory on the north side of campus. Because Jack’s classes and an on-campus dining hall are all in close proximity to his dormitory, his total distance and number or steps are well below average; however, his classes within the journalism building and his third-floor dorm room require him to climb an above average number of flights of stairs.

JA C O B , 2 0

3 mi.

3 mi.

0 mi.

FIELD OF STUDY

DISTA N C E

CASE STUDIES

27 lb.

FLIGHTS CLIMBED

WEIGHT O F L O A D

25 STEPS

Jacob is a junior chemical engineering student who lives in an on-campus apartment on the east side of campus. Because Jacob’s classes are largely spread throughout campus, and he must walk a long distance to reach an oncampus dining hall, the total distance of his commute is much longer. He is also required to carry a much heavier load of textbooks because of his engineering courseload. He does, however, climb much fewer flights of stairs than average.

COMPARATIVE DATA

HAYDEN

COMPARATIVE DATA

VICTORIA

COMPARATIVE DATA

KATIE

COMPARATIVE DATA

JACK

COMPARATIVE DATA

JACOB

COMPARATIVE DATA

INTERACTION

STEPS E

AG

ER

AV

B

CO

JA

CK

JA

E

TI

IA

OR

KA

CT

VI

EN

YD

HA

4,750 steps

0 steps

17 stories

FLIGHTS C L I M B E D

E ER

AG

B CO JA

CK JA

E TI KA

IA OR CT

AV

COMPARATIVE DATA

VI

HA

YD

EN

0 stories

DISTANC E E

AG

ER

AV

B

CO

JA

CK

JA

E

TI

IA

OR

KA

CT

VI

EN

YD

HA

3 miles

0 miles

30 pounds

WEIGHT O F L O A D

E ER

AG

B CO JA

CK JA

E TI KA

IA OR CT

AV

COMPARATIVE DATA

VI

HA

YD

EN

0 pounds

DESIGN AND RESEARCH BY HAYDEN NAGIN