Investigation of sensory aspects affecting behavior in urban space

In order to percieve the world and the city that we live in, and to communicate with the urban elements in our environs, visual perception and information from other sensory sources (sight, touch, smell) are very essential and effective form of data. Sensory data helps to attach meanings to the places, instill a sense of belonging, connect to a place, and transform the area into a "living space". Studies have designated the significance of that issue in the development of a sustainable urban environment. From this point of view, the main objective of this study is to understand the interaction of the sensory (visual/perceptualcognitive/auditory) characteristics of urban space with each other and thier impact on the behavior of the individuals using the space. The scope of the study entails the route with the axis that extends between Konya High-Speed Train Station and Mevlâna Tomb, about 3 km long and represents an important road in terms of its vision, historical identity, and central functions of Konya city .A mixed methodology was used on the sample route. Firstly, Sound walk accompanying questionnaire, as well as sound intensity measurements, were used in an attempt to understand the auditory characteristics of the route. In order to understand the visual characteristics of the sample route, photographs taken from the area and questionnaire interviews conducted to measure the user's perspective were used. For the point of perception of the selected route, the cognitive maps drawn by users of the route were the primary data. A survey that captured all the aforementioned methods was used rated by the user concerning the sampled route in terms of auditory, visual, and cognitive aspects. A sample of 92 participants were used in the survey. Behavioral observations were made by the author periodically, on the usage of the route at certain times. Records were taken and the information was processed into behavioral matrices and behavioral maps in the GIS environment. At a later stage, the data obtained from all these analyses are integrated. In addition, detailed evaluations were made for the entire route and the focal points determined on it, and the impact of sensory characteristics on the use of space has been revealed.