# Walkability Compass--A Space Syntax Solution for Comparative Studies
### Explaining Walkability with Space Syntax
#### 1.2.1 Space Syntax as Background Theory
Moreover, studies on pedestrian walking behaviour [26] showed that the visibility of specific spaces impacts pedestrian wayfinding choices and triggers intentional visual design practice [27]. Similar relationships were established for mixed land use [28]. This transfers space syntax to urban design practice. Unless the space syntax cannot predict featured societal effects, it can provide well identifications and descriptions of spatial properties [29]. Furthermore, to make the walkability frameworks comprehensive, up to three research levels are recommended to be set up: physicals, perceptual and individual [30]; our research uses four different measures to maintain this standard. 2.2 The Growing Interest in Space Syntax Application into Walkability Studies--A Systematic Literature Review  
The following literature review concerns research that uses space syntax tools to explain city walkability. The growing importance of walkability in cities and various approaches towards its analysis is reflected in the increasing number and diversifying content of scientific publications; the quantitative and qualitative methods can reveal this trend. First, the quantitative approach involved a Web of Science (WoS) search query. Next, the qualitative process involves selected paper content analysis using \"walkability\" and \"space syntax\" keywords--the query resulted in more than 2500 scientific papers. Since the first publications in 2001 [31], the interest in space syntax-based walkability studies has grown to 360 scientific papers dated 2020. The walkability topic falls in public occupational, environmental health, transportation and environmental-oriented journals, but the urban studies research field is foremost. Importantly, it is an issue usually studied using space syntax theory. The international literature's graphical connotations between space syntax and walkability are described in Figure 1.  
Both keywords were reported jointly, but concerning the walkability research, two research methods have been distinguished, the first using on-site data collection (e.g., field surveys) and the second based on geospatial data approaches, which this research belongs to. On-site data collection tools such as, e.g., the Path Environment Audit Tool, Walking  
Figure 1: Predominant keywords, authors, and thematic clusters in the research volume encompassing walkability and space syntax topics according to CiteSpace [32] search results. Suitability Assessment Form, Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Survey, among others, takes into account urban factors such as pedestrian counting and direct observations of human activities [33], street width, street flatness, street cleanliness, shade coverage, presence of trees and sound decibels [34]. Furthermore, survey-based walkability assessments may include subjective data, such as people's perceptions of aesthetics, traffic and crime safety, or neighbourhood satisfaction [35]. For example, [PERSON] et al. 's [36] Walkability Index can be given regarding geospatial approaches. The index considers the net residential density, street connectivity, and land-use diversity. On the other hand, the WalkScore algorithm, created by Front Seat Management LLC, calculates neighbourhood walkability by assigning a 1.6 km buffer zone around the participant's residential address and assessing the presence of facilities in the buffer zone, population density and road metrics [6]. The WalkScore is a well-recognised tool for quantitative analysis or a walk-friendly environment [35], despite its criticism on the lack of topological structure [37]. A brief comparison of space syntax-related case studies is presented in Table 1. The examples use essential walkability explanatory indexes: street connectivity, land use mix [36], residential density [38; 39].