TRAFFIC SURVEY DATE: 10-26-2014 Kyoko C. Eng
Experiment No.1 An Intersection of Time and Space :: Pedestrian Traffic
Objectives
-Highlight a normal human action and draw attention to it -Observe alterations in behavior due to factor mentioned above -Identify trends in human behavior and their sources -Survey human traffic patterns
Observations
I am interested in observing human behavioral trends as well as what reactions occur when something in their normal environment changes. For this experiment, I have surveyed an area of high pedestrian traffic. What I noticed when I surveyed this space, is that due to its width and incline, it encourages little human to human interaction. More details that I picked up from the space are as follows: > The pathway is split between an upward moving lane and a downward moving lane > This high flow of traffic interrupts the main points of intersection. > Semicircles have been placed throughout the space to encourage human to human interaction > The semicircles are not used regularly for socializing purposes > Semicircles may enforce the idea that the main pathway is busy and needs to be traversed quickly > Most of the people who cross the walkway look down while walking.
Initial Survey of Space :: No Pedestrians
Walkway / Midway / Top to Bottom
Walkway / Entrance / Bottom to Top
Walkway / Approach Intersection / Top to Bottom
Walkway / Approach Bottom / Top to Bottom
Walkway / Approach Intersection / Horizontal / From Library
Library / Intersection / Top-Down View
Summary & Methodology There are two components to this experiment.
Component 1:: The Art of Standing Still
With my volunteers I highlighted a normal human action, the action of standing still. Although at first, this action seemed absolutely mundane and irrelevant, when done for 15 minutes in a high traffic area, it had quite the opposite effect. Those traversing the pedestrian walkway, quickly noticed the change in their normal environment. They each began to search through their own experiences to make sense of this change. In addition, they began to depend on each other to help make sense of the experience; grouping and discussing what they thought was happening. Some thought the act was a political demonstration, while others interpreted it as a flash mob ( a current social trend that encourages vast coordinated action and utilizes social media ), others thought it was a memorial. Regardless of interpretation, the audience affected looked up and questioned thee role the volunteers played in that space. They thereby, displayed an opinion and/or began to rethink their own opinion of what the correct role for that space entailed as well as what the potential for that space was.
Component 2:: Pedestrian Traffic Survey
In doing this experiment I had my volunteers stand in pre-planned patterns. These patterns correlated to a query I had had on how blocking certain areas of the walkway would affect the overall flow of pedestrian traffic. The volunteers were placed at first to block the middle lane, thereby funneling traffic vertically to the 2 outer lanes. After a 5 minute mark, the volunteers moved to a second position. This position blocked the outer lanes and cleared horizontal traffic at the intersections by centralizing the the vertical flow. This position also encouraged the use of the semi-circular precepts of the space.
[ Result :: Action= Successfully received usable data on reaction to standing still and role within space ]
[ Result :: Traffic Survey = Inconclusive documentation / Must re-perform experiment ]
Planning / Bird’s-Eye-View
Planning / Bird’s-Eye-View / Sketch
Planning / Traffic Flow Diagram / Without Variable
Planning / Traffic Flow Diagram / Variable Pattern 1
Planning / Traffic Flow Diagram / Variable Pattern 2
Roles , Constants, & Variables Constraints & Variables -The place is constant
-Time of day must be consistent for 1 set of patterns -Volunteers must not speak or interact with others -Can test set of patterns in different locations and at different times -Patterns can be still or can move - Volunteers must blend in appearance with the public
My Role Volunteer Roles -Orchestrator -Willing Participant -Surveyor -Coordinator
-Secondary Observer -Canvas / Pattern
Audience Roles
-Unknowing Participant -Data & Content
Setting Duration -Pedestrian walkway during a class change -15 minutes each -Pedestrian walkway during an empty period -Gay St during lunch hour -Gay street during a weekend night
Planning / Volunteer Instructions
TRAFFIC SURVEY
NO. 1
INSTRUCTIONS read before proceeding
1. On your phone set an alarm for 2:00 p and then an alarm for 2:05 p. START AREA
2. Find your assigned spot, this will correlate to your NO.___ A label will be taped to the ground where you will stand. 3. When you find your spot, you will begin the performance. Please stand facing the direction indicated by the arrow at your feet. 4. Stand stoically, look straight ahead and try not to make eye contact with anyone passing. Do not talk or move. 5. Only move if you feel endangered. 6. When your alarm goes off at 2, move to spot 2. Indicated by label. 7. When the alarm goes off at 2:05 quietly return to the classroom.
Thank you for your hard work and participation in this traffic survey!
TRAFFIC SURVEY
NO. 2
INSTRUCTIONS read before proceeding
1. On your phone set an alarm for 2:00 p and then an alarm for 2:05 p. START AREA
2. Find your assigned spot, this will correlate to your NO.___ A label will be taped to the ground where you will stand. 3. When you find your spot, you will begin the performance. Please stand facing the direction indicated by the arrow at your feet. 4. Stand stoically, look straight ahead and try not to make eye contact with anyone passing. Do not talk or move.
Video Documentation :: Points of Interest Point CAM -file_0000 6:00 mark = position of volunteers change -file_00001 whole ( punctum of piece ) GO Pro -6:00-8:00 volunteer change -11:00-End audience participation