Our Future Environment

I conducted research in Crown Heights, Brooklyn during the month of November, 2007 in order to evaluate the plaNYC proposal and relate it to current New York City neighborhoods.

To develop a coding system using a time-sampling schedule (Ittelson et al 1970) I systematically listed behaviors on a one block area during mid-morning and early afternoon. For example, most behaviors listed are the following: walking, talking, standing, sitting, playing (in various ways,) and utilizing a parked car, trashcan, or other item. I then grouped the behaviors into a smaller number of observational categories according to presence of a group or individual, active or passive behavior, age range, and gender. I then used this list to develop an efficient coding scheme to use for estimating pedestrian population density and activity in the three-square block subsection of interest.
The independent variable in this study is the location and number of trees along the sidewalks in the three-square block subsection of Crown Heights. The dependent variable is individual behavior and population density. Weather and time of day will be correlated with findings and discussed as possible confounding variables.  Measures of the dependent variables consist of frequency of occurrence at each level of each variable.
Beginning in early November, I walked on both sides of all six blocks and marked the locations of existing trees on a printed map of the neighborhood section. I also checked this record against an online satellite map of street tree stocking level/cover.
To record pedestrian activity over a two-week period, from early to mid November, I walked both sides of all six blocks twice a week, during early-morning and early evening. This results in eight separate recording times, half occurring on the weekend. The behavior of each person was recorded according to the pre-determined coding sheet. The behavior of each person is recorded based on what I immediately observed; independent of a change in behavior (sat down or stood up, for example).

The methodology for this study does assume and recognize two caveats. First, residents in Crown Heights are using the neighborhood sidewalks in a certain way during certain hours. This is due to my own anecdotal observation as a resident in this neighborhood. This study assumes that residents will be most active in the early morning and late afternoon when work or school is beginning and ending. However, using behavior mapping will allow us to investigate our main question, which is how residents are using their public space and if that behavior is correlated with the percentage of tree cover.  The second possible limitation is the time of year and weather in which this research occurs. As weather becomes colder, especially in New York City, residents are less likely to spend social time outside.

Filed under: environmental planning on April 7th, 2008