The document discusses various techniques for observing and documenting public spaces and human behavior within them. It describes 7 main techniques: 1) gate counts, 2) static snapshots/photography/sketching, 3) mapping, 4) movement tracing, 5) test walking, 6) ethnographic observations, and 7) other techniques like interviews, questionnaires, and keeping a diary. For each technique, it provides details on how to implement it such as locations to observe from, what to record, and variables to consider. The goal of these observation techniques is to collect both quantitative and qualitative data on how spaces are used.

1. DrAmr Ali Bayoumi
V e r n a c u l a r
A r c h i t e c t u r e
1.9
DEFINING OBSERVATION
According to the Macmillan online dictionary, to observe means
“to watch or study someone or something with care and attention
in order to discover something”.7 And watching with care and
attention is precisely what it takes to wrest useful knowledge from
ordinary scenes
An observer can play various roles depending on the character of the
study. The role of registrar, for example, counting units, where precision is
the most important function. The registrar can also have an assessment
role, categorizing people by age group, for example. Here the ability to
evaluate is the most important function. Or the registrar’s role can be
analytical, keeping a detailed diary with a feeling for nuance, a trained
eye and experienced sense of what type of information is relevant. How is a bench used?
Jan Gehl, “People on Foot”, Arkitekten no. 20/196811 - Mark Von Vodtke

2. DrAmr Ali Bayoumi
V e r n a c u l a r
A r c h i t e c t u r e
1.10
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
WHO?
Who more meaningful to investigate more
general categories such as gender or age.
52%
women
Bryant Park is in the middle of Manhattan between
Times Square and Grand Central Terminal. One
possible indicator for whether a park is safe is the
presence of a sufficient number of women.
Warmer means more women in space
How many people are walking and how
many are stationary? In Brighton New
Road, a public life study helped to
determine use before and after
improvements were made.
How many?
New Road, Brighton, England
Starting with the question of how
many is basic to public life
studies
Gråbrødre Torv, Copenhagen
Where?
If people are walking from point A to point B,
they can usually live with suboptimal wind,
sun or shadow conditions, but for staying
activities a place needs a higher level of
climate quality
Where people stay: on the edges, in
the middle or evenly distributed in
the space?

3. DrAmr Ali Bayoumi
V e r n a c u l a r
A r c h i t e c t u r e
1.11
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
WHAT?
What are the types of activities in an area ?
Activities such as staying, commercial or physical
activities, and the requirements these various
activities make on the physical environment
Warmer means more women in space
Walking speed and the amount of time spent
staying can provide information about the quality
of physical frameworks. It is often the case that
people walk slower and
stay longer in places relative to the qualities and
pleasures offered.
How Long?
How long it will take to reach
from one point to another ?

4. DrAmr Ali Bayoumi
V e r n a c u l a r
A r c h i t e c t u r e
1.12
OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES
1. Gate Counts
Sample of the gate counts table marking gate number, time of
observation task, age category, and a tally count of the number
of people passing by the gate. Special notes were also recorded
in relation to weather

5. DrAmr Ali Bayoumi
V e r n a c u l a r
A r c h i t e c t u r e
1.13
OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES
1. Gate Counts
The average number of pedestrians per hour observed at the weekend

6. DrAmr Ali Bayoumi
V e r n a c u l a r
A r c h i t e c t u r e
1.14
OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES
2. Static Snapshots, Photographing and Sketching
Static snapshots are conducted to record the use
pattern of spaces within buildings or public spaces
in an urban context
1. Indicate easily observed and positions at which an
observer could maximize visual exposure to the
observed field of study and at the same time minimize
his/her own visibility to the users.
2. Use a large-scale (1:50 minimum) floor plan to note
categories and activities (sitting, standing, moving,
interacting) for a period of five minutes over regular
intervals during the day.
3. Other particularities that relate to weather conditions,
peculiar behavioral patterns, IT use, or site settings can be
marked in written text on observation sheets

7. DrAmr Ali Bayoumi
V e r n a c u l a r
A r c h i t e c t u r e
1.15
OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES
2. Static Snapshots, Photographing and Sketching
OLD ECOLODGE /
DEWELLINGS
RECENT BUILT ECOLDGE
(BABENSHAL E.)

8. DrAmr Ali Bayoumi
V e r n a c u l a r
A r c h i t e c t u r e
1.16
OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES
3. Mapping

9. DrAmr Ali Bayoumi
V e r n a c u l a r
A r c h i t e c t u r e
1.17
OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES
4. Movement Tracing and Tracking
Movement traces enables tracking and mapping the collective
flow dynamics through a predefined area. It helps
understanding movement patterns and where people are likely
to enter/exit the area from…
1. The observers position themselves in locations that
maximize their vision of the layout and record movement
for 5 minutes at several time intervals throughout the day
2. Track and map human behavior ..
Next figure shows movement traces and some static patterns are drawn
on a 1:50 plan of an urban area. Source: Screens in the Wild @UCL.

10. DrAmr Ali Bayoumi
V e r n a c u l a r
A r c h i t e c t u r e
1.18
OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES
4. Movement Tracing and Tracking
There are three distinct issues that can be investigated
through the use of this technique:
1) Patterns of movement from a specific location;
2) Relationship of one route to other routes;
3) Average distance people walk from one location (e.g.
to study the catchment area).
Observers should pick up people randomly as they
start a journey from a predefined point of origin
and follow them tracing their route
N.B. The tracing might be stopped either when people leave the area of interest, reach a pre-defined destination, or after a fixed
period of time (e.g. ten minutes).

11. DrAmr Ali Bayoumi
V e r n a c u l a r
A r c h i t e c t u r e
1.19
OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES
5. Test Walking
Test walks in Sydney showed that up to 52 of total
walking time was spent waiting at traffic lights

12. DrAmr Ali Bayoumi
V e r n a c u l a r
A r c h i t e c t u r e
1.20
OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES
6. Ethnographic Observations
Ethnographic observations are especially relevant to
understanding qualitative issues of space usage within
buildings (unpacking social phenomena and complex
relationships of cause…
Further to the patterns revealed by previous
methodologies, ethnographic observations add depth
and richness to a research narrative.
Observers are encouraged to take notes / pictures,
make sketches of what they see, hear, smell or feel.

13. DrAmr Ali Bayoumi
V e r n a c u l a r
A r c h i t e c t u r e
1.21
OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES
7. Other techniques (interviews and questionnaires)
Scales:
Linkert Scale: strongly agree – agree – disagree – strongly disagree
Nominal scale: yes – no / gender : male-female
Ordinal scale: level of education: primary- secondary- undergraduate-
graduate- diploma – masters –phD
Interval Scale: <15 years - b. 15 -20 years – c. 20 -25 years – d. 25 – 30
years – e. >30 years
Measurement: a variable must be designed to be measured so statistical analysis
can be carried out…
Variables are logical groupings of attributes:
Age (Variable): young, middle aged, old (attribute)
Type of Vegetation (Variable): grass, shrubs, trees
Open Ended Questions
?

14. DrAmr Ali Bayoumi
V e r n a c u l a r
A r c h i t e c t u r e
1.22
OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES
7. Other techniques (Keeping a Diary)
Keeping a Diary related to
Mapping

15. DrAmr Ali Bayoumi
V e r n a c u l a r
A r c h i t e c t u r e
1.23
OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES
7. Other techniques (Keeping a Diary)