Assessment of the accessibility of nonresidential units in Abu Dhabi neighborhoods.

Abstract

This thesis uses Multiple Centrality Assessment (MCA) to understand the accessibility of nonresidential land uses in NPUs' designs. The thesis uses NPUs in Abu Dhabi as a case study, analyzes different patterns of street networks across different scales, and proposes new concepts and models for understanding accessibility. Results reveals that all low rise, low density residential NPUs in Abu Dhabi have low accessibility to nonresidential uses, regardless of their location. Furthermore, the research proposes a model for accessible NPUs by focusing on three elements: street layout design, permeability, and edge-attractiveness. Findings stress that the perfect grid tends to be more accessible than other designs at both local and global scales, while fragmented interlock patterns are the least accessible. Findings also suggest that a well-designed NPU must be characterized by both permeability and edge attractiveness. Nevertheless, these two qualities serve different needs and purposes when it comes to land use designation. Permeability is defined by high values in gravity and/or betweenness in NPU's center on a global scale in core locations. The edge-attractiveness that helps provide strong 'seams' between NPUs is defined by high values in gravity and/or betweenness in NPU's edges in perimeter locations at global scale. Nonresidential facilities for daily needs should be located at the center to have high accessibility and low permeability. To promote the interconnection between adjacent NPUs, the street networks should have high accessibility and high edge-attractiveness for global nonresidential facilities at the edges.

Date of Award	Dec 2020
Original language	American English