A Space of Mind : Mapping Spatial Usage at the University of British Columbia
Creators: name: Kanyamuna, Hyunsoo
name: Antkiw, Jessica
name: Bunton, Claire
name: Gullaci, Marisa
name: Salvino, Nicola
name: Smirnova, Anastassiya
Publisher: name: The University of British Columbia
Year: 2017

description: Situated on the western extremity of the Point Grey peninsula, the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus is a distinct community that weaves world-class academics with a population whose diversity rivals that of the country it rests upon. The Social Mapping Project is a new initiative that aims to understand the intricate relationships that exist between the materiality of campus space and the lived experiences of its users. Conducted in partnership with the Social, Ecological, and Economic Development Studies (SEEDS) program, the purpose of this research is to assist UBC Campus + Community Planning (C+CP) in assessing and understanding social vibrancy and community building on the UBC Vancouver campus. The product of the Social Mapping Project is a comprehensive matrix that categorizes the features of individual outdoor public spaces on the UBC Vancouver campus. A combination of visual and textual descriptors provides information in a standardized manner, allowing for accurate comparisons to be made between different spaces. The data organized in the project’s matrix was accumulated over a three-month period which began in September, 2015. Within this timeframe a variety of methods were employed: narrative analysis through participant observation, contextual analysis, and an online survey. The information obtained from these sources was transferred onto layers atop a map of the UBC Vancouver campus, creating a visual-spatial supplement to the matrix. As represented in the Appendix B, the campus is segmented into six areas that frame the findings of the Social Mapping Project. An analysis of the accrued data displays trends relating to land use, revealing areas A and D to be the most frequented among survey respondents. A gradient exists in this regard, evidenced by the low usage of sections C and F which are situated on the opposite extremity of the map. The directions of these findings are studied in conjunction with the survey’s results for potential uses of campus spaces. Food trucks, public art, and live music are the three dominant programming recommendations, followed respectively by a desire for more rain cover, seating, lighting, bike racks, and tables. Several limiting factors may be revised in future iterations of the Social Mapping Project. For one, the timeframe of the project does not allow cross-seasonal observations to be made. Due to the reduced amount of sunlight and cold weather conditions at the time of this study, the data may not be reflective of the land use habits that people display in milder weather. The study may also benefit from the use of focus groups. This approach would expand upon the survey, producing detailed inputs that will strengthen its results. Focus groups may also yield a more representative sample population because we can select a proportionate number of representatives from different social groups. The Social Mapping Project matrix will be made accessible to the public, inviting future researchers to add new spaces to the dataset. In doing so, the limitations of the study may be alleviated as information is corrected and modified in subsequent editions. This continuity will accomplish the project’s goal of evaluating social vibrancy and community building on campus as UBC Vancouver evolves over time. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”