Analysis of the role of components affecting spatial cognition in increasing the readability of the environment Case study: Sajjad neighborhood of Mashhad

Today, due to the importance of cognitive environmental concepts in the quality of the environment, the need to pay attention to citizens' knowledge of legible urban space has become doubly important. The readable environment is clearly formed in people's minds. Effective components in spatial cognition and mental representation of the environment according to the characteristics of the environment and users can be effective in increasing the readability of the environment. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the role of effective components on spatial cognition in increasing the readability of the environment. The research method is applied in terms of purpose and in terms of survey nature. In this regard, in order to collect data, field observations, questionnaires and site visits were used and the statistical population of 248 people, including citizens living in Sajjad neighborhood, was selected. Then 106 citizens were randomly questioned. The collected questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS software and by examining the hypotheses and using the confirmatory factor analysis method using Amos software. The results indicate that the quality of readability has a direct effect on the process of spatial cognition and wayfinding in urban spaces. Citizens use various guides to make readable wayfinding in neighborhoods.Environmental differentiation plays an important role in how people mentally organize themselves from the environment and maintain wayfinding . Due to this, many factors are involved in the process of spatial cognition in wayfinding behavior, including factors affecting the easy understanding of the environment, primarily the differentiation of buildings. The degree of distinctiveness of buildings is effective in the successful wayfinding of citizens, in the second degree, we can point to the diversity and clarity of urban space and elements located in space. Visual clarity helps to choose the path and better understand the space