Work

Promoting an energy-based pedestrian planning method: Explanation of desire paths in urban green areas

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This paper addresses pedestrian navigation behaviour and the underlying motivations by analysing the phenomenon of spontaneous pedestrian trail formation in urban green areas, also known as desire paths. Existing computational tools fail to accurately reproduce trails, and the underlying principle of pedestrian behaviour is not known. In this paper we present a novel synergistic method to model spontaneous trail formation, employing a graph representation of arbitrary design area and the concept of the metabolic energy demand of walking, presuming pedestrians’ subconscious energy optimisation during way-finding. The method is validated via several benchmark tests with proven analytical solutions and demonstrated in two large-scale case studies with existing trails. Our findings corroborate the hypothesis that subconscious metabolic least-cost optimisation is the principle behind the phenomenon. Interference effects of trails known in this field could also be confirmed. The presented method is more than just a park planning tool. It highlights the importance of incorporating pedestrians’ energy sensitivity in human-centred or walkable city design. Any planning tasks involving pedestrian traffic could be evaluated on this energy principle and considered in subsequent design.

Source: Cities

DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2025.106705

Authors: Ádám Ungvárai, Brigitta K. Tóth, András Lengyel

Institutions: University of Debrecen, Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Language: English

Topic: Urban Design and Spatial Analysis

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,000