What is it about?
The objective of this paper is to examine the mental representations of Timișoara, Romania in order to identify the spatial elements (neighbourhoods, streets, landmarks, urban symbols) that are particularly salient in the respondents’ mental representations of the city.
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Why is it important?
Mental maps are important in facilitating a more comprehensive understanding of how individuals perceive and mentally represent physical spaces. It is of great importance to consider discrepancies between real and perceived environments when utilising mental maps as instruments.
Perspectives
The findings suggest that spatial perception is influenced by certain dimensions connected to respondents’ socio-demographic features. The findings also indicate that peripheral areas of the city are perceived as lacking memorability and attractiveness, confirming that these neighbourhoods do not fulfil the necessary functions of an urban space. It can be concluded that mental mapping serves as an efficient approach to the analysis of community–space relationships. The implications of this study are valuable for any stakeholders with activities in the city of Timisoara and contribute to sustainable, qualitative, and community-based urban planning.
Dr Remus Cretan
west university of Timisoara
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Mapping Perception: Analyzing Mental Representations of Urban Space in Timișoara, Romania, Urban Science, November 2024, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/urbansci8040205.
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