Townscape and wayfinding: A review of existing literature

Abstract

Amidst the urban public health challenges in Malaysia, where obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and road traffic accidents are increasing, the importance of walkability in cities is gaining recognition. This paper provides an overview of the existing literature on the visual structure of townscapes and its impact on pedestrian navigation, investigating two main factors: environmental (visibility and saliency) and psychological (navigational competency). Urban visual studies and the theoretical progression are explained and compared. The review concludes that there is a general consensus on the significance of visual characteristics in orienting the urban environment. Specifically, the degree of permeability of the townscape visual scene and the availability of salient visual cues significantly influence wayfinding performance. Additionally, individual difference, including spatial ability, also reflects the utilisation of visual cues for wayfinding. However, further research is needed to explore a holistic approach encompassing the visual scene as a whole (gestalt) of the townscapes in the context of visual navigation.