Reading spaces of inequality in urban scale; an experimental based model suggestion

The subject of the study is about identifying and analysing the phenomenon of inequality in urban scale in spatial dimension. It is possible to talk about a situation of inequality that is felt and experienced almost everywhere in urban public spaces. In fact, this situation is experienced not only physically but also socially and perceptually. Therefore, inequality emerges in many dimensions in urban-public space. The doctoral thesis, which started with this statement, seeks to answer the question of what is the spatial representation of inequalities, whose common goal is to understand human-physical environmental dynamics, as in all environment-behaviour research. Therefore, the aim of the study is to propose a model for the identification of inequality spaces. Thus, within the scope of the study, the factors that cause inequality and the relationship between the urban space and the user will be drawn attention to and the inequality spaces will be determined by analyses made with the proposed model. Within the scope of the study, it is aimed to develop a model proposal for the determination of inequality spaces. In addition to the use of combined and simultaneous methods in the study, the fact that the issue of spatialisation of inequality at the urban scale has not been addressed in the international and national literature before reveals the unique value of the study. The field study of Antalya MarkAntalya Shopping Mall and its immediate surroundings, which undertakes the main objective of testing the proposed model, examines the urban space from a user-oriented perspective. The study covers the area within a radius of 1000 m, which is the maximum walking distance based on pedestrian movements. Based epistemologically on environment-behaviour theories, the Experimental Practice Model in Inequality Spatial Readings - Emodum bases its methodology on various procedures that define the simultaneous use of texture analysis, behaviour mapping, spatial sequencing and survey methods. Accordingly, the method defined as "texture analysis" includes morphological structure, occupancy-vacancy, function and transportation analyses of the study area. Morphological structure, occupancy-vacancy and transportation analyses were conducted in order to reveal in which spatial layers of the city pedestrians are concentrated. Functional analysis consists of determining the functions of the spaces within the boundaries of the study area and revealing the effect on movement by creating a function map. "Behaviour mapping" was carried out to determine the pedestrian density passing at certain times throughout the day at the points determined in the area through video recording. Video recording was done offline with OpenCV software using an IP camera from a height of 4-6 metres. Video recording was carried out at 98 points for 90 days on different days during weekdays and weekends. "Connectivity", "integration", "choice" and visibility (VGA) analyses were performed with the "spatial sequence" method. In the "survey" method, the purpose and reasons of the users for being in the space they experienced were investigated with the "Urban Space Preference" scale. The survey was the last stage of the fieldwork and lasted approximately 45-60 days. As a result of the field research based on environment-behaviour, it was determined that the region contains both physical, social and perceptual inequality spaces and it was suggested that this factor should be taken into consideration in order not to affect the social structure. The objectives regarding the benefits of the model to the literature in terms of application and theory: 1. To propose a new model for determining inequality spaces at urban scale, 2. To provide information about the roles of public spaces with their effects on daily activity and social interaction, 3. The research methods used simultaneously within the scope of the new model constitute an important source for environment-perception-behaviour studies in the context of 'unequal space', 4. To form predictions about the change and transformation of urban areas in line with the behaviour patterns of users and pedestrian movements, 5. Creating a source in the literature for the improvement of urban and social facilities and the development of spatial projects from the expectations of the users who took part in the study, so that different communities living in the neighbourhoods around the study area can benefit from the gains obtained as a result of the project, and the urbanites who use the area daily can also benefit from the improvements in the area, 6. With the solution proposals that can be brought in the spatial sense, both point crime rates can be reduced, thus safer urban areas can be created, and as a result, more democratic spaces can be created. As a result, the validity of Emodum has been proved and it is proposed to be used in inequality spatial detection for areas with different characteristics.