# Walkability Compass--A Space Syntax Solution for Comparative Studies
## 2 Method  
### The Case Study Cities Description  
The proposed walkability compass and spatial pattern comparison method is not a sole theoretical framework since it is tested on eight case study cities. Moreover, the case studies are not related; however, the choices result from the possibility of field verifying research outcomes by the authors' team (live there or know these cities from visits). As case studies, the following cities were selected: Vilnius, Kaunas, Malmo, Riga, Tallinn, Gdansk, Bialystok, Lublin. Below we describe them briefly and present the geographical location within the Baltic Sea region (Figure 2).  
Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius are the capitals of three Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, respectively. Vilnius is the largest city in Lithuania, located in the country's southeastern area. According to the differentiation of the city's functioning, the differences  
Figure 2: The case study cities: (**A**) location within Baltic Sea region, (**B**) cities’ administrative borders and roads network: (**upper left**) Vilnius, Kaunas, Malmö, Riga; (**bottom left**) Tallinn, Gdansk, Bialystok, Lublin (authors own elaboration using Open Street Map datasets [47]).  
in the quality of life and the peculiarity of the environment, the city of Vilnius is divided into three zones of the city structure: central, secondary (historical suburbs, middle of the 20 th c. mass-construction residential, industrial areas) and peripheral (extensively urbanised and non-urbanised areas) [49]. The master plan of Vilnius gives priority to the development of green spaces, modernisation of the residential regions, development of social infrastructure, pedestrian and cycle paths, public transport and the sharing economy that is closely related to city walkability increase. Vilnius and Kaunas are the first-level centres in the urban framework of Lithuania. Kaunas is within the leading Lithuanian roads and national and international axis of integration, located in the central part of Lithuania. The city has a concentric urban structure; the Old and New Town are next to Nemunas and Neris rivers confluence [50].  
Malmo is Sweden's third-largest city in the southernmost province of Skane, a central transport hub in southern Sweden. The city pays much attention to sustainable mobility. Riga is the largest city of Latvia, located on the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Daugava. Riga is home to a third of Latvia's population and is the largest city in the Baltic States. According to the Sustainable Development Strategy of Riga, until 2030 [51], the city will strive to become pedestrian, cyclist, and public transport-friendly. Tallinn is the economic centre and most important port in the north of Estonia, on the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. According to Tallinn's development strategy [52], the goal is to compact the city centre, help make more efficient use of Tallinn's space, provide an alternative high-quality living environment and limit urban sprawl. Gdansk is a county town in northern Poland, on the Gulf of Gdansk on the Baltic Sea. Since 2011, Gdansk, together with Sopot and Gdynia, created the metropolitan area established to strengthen cooperation and achieve harmonious development. It has a typical linear structure for transit-oriented development cities. Bialystok is the largest city in northeastern Poland, the administrative centre of Podlaskie vovodship. About 17.2% of the municipality is forested, and it is the fifth most forested city in the country. Lublin is a county town in southeastern Poland, the administrative centre of the Lublin Vovodeship.