Alagent-Based Modelling of Urban Navigation based on Human Spatial Cognition

Move through the environment is an inseparable activity of human life. People need to know where they are and how they can arrive to their intended destination at the right time. Among several navigation aids (e. g.، maps and satellite navigation systems)، they may use their spatial knowledge (i. e.، cognitive map) for this aim، especially in familiar spaces. Human spatial behaviour is complex due to its dependence on various external and internal factors. Factors such as age، gender، education، IQ، environment design، affect human spatial decisions. Investigating such a complex system is too difficult، or sometimes، simply impossible to directly deal with directly. To model this complex process، one first requires knowledge of the scientific principles of human spatial cognition and its elements. A shortcoming of cartographic maps is that they are limited to a top view representation of the space. Therefore، they only provide metric information and topological relations، while map information can turn in to stable and accurate spatial knowledge by frequent using and simultaneous interaction with environment. One of the proposed ideas in order to make navigation aids consistent with human cognition، is enrichment of cartographic maps with the elements of spatial cognition. This enriching makes person to interact with the environment through his cognition while moving by navigation aids. In order to practical using of this idea، it is necessary to evaluate these maps to assess its effectiveness in the process of spatial knowledge creation and improvement. This study، first، presents human spatial cognition and describes its elements by focusing on urban environment characteristics and the way human observe and perceive it. Then، on the basis of these principles، an agent-based model is proposed to present human mental process while observing and perceiving environment، in a more understandable way. In this model، the various stages of human cognition including spatial data storage، integration and upgrading spatial knowledge and retrieval of this knowledge for navigation، is simulated for a pedestrian in urban environment. The proposed model is used to evaluate a map enriched with elements of human spatial cognition.