Upgrading isovist models by introducing a new set of variables based on the position of the open edges

There are several theories about the effect of space configuration (structure) on the psychological perception of the environment. However, there is no comprehensive and consensus model that can be used to analyze and predict spatial quality or human behavior in the environment based on spatial configuration. Theories of environmental preferences as well as navigation often emphasize the importance of the shape and amount of information available to humans from the environment. Isovist analysis can also partially translate the structure of access to information in the environment into a set of mathematical variables. However, attempts to turn the Isovist into such a tool have been limited.One of the main reasons for this may be the weakness of the Isovist in expressing the capacity of the environment to provide new and unpredictable information and the lack of attention to the active role of humans in the search for information. The present article tries to define the possibility of creating and presenting unpredictable information by defining a new set of variables based on open edges of Isovist and to assess the possibilities of the individual to search for information by the environment. Then, with the initial explanation of the relationship between the proposed variables and human perceptions, it will promote Isovist analyzes and take a step towards creating a more comprehensive model in the future.

In the present study, after introducing and compiling the variables and explaining the method of calculating them, two methods were used to discover the relationship between the variables and the emotional perceptual characteristics of the environment (significance of the variables). In the first method, these variables were studied freely in a case study (Museum of Contemporary Art). In the second and wider experiment, using a special virtual environment and design in this environment by the designers, the correlation of the defined variables with the spatial quality was examined.

The results show the relationship between different situations of the environment in terms of inviting the user to move, stillness on the one hand and the proposed variables on the other. Some of the proposed variables in different situations with different motor invitations show different values.
On the other hand, the results show a strong correlation of some of the proposed variables with increasing the spatial quality. In the process of increasing the spatial quality, some of the proposed variables are significantly increased or decreased. Also, the presence of high values in some variables indicates the presence of desirable or undesirable points in the environment.

The results of both tests show the high importance and significance of the introduced variables. Therefore, the use of these variables along with other known variables for the analysis of spaces seems to be absolutely necessary and useful. According to the needs and for the use of other researchers, software was developed that allows the calculation of these variables and other variables in different environments. This application is available at https://isovistdesign.com/.