The spatial configuration of local climate zones reveals effects on wayfinding in human walking

rise), and LCZ D (low plants) as well as the value of SIMI metric in LCZ 9 (sparsely built) (Table 2(b)). 3.4 Identification of priority locations for spatial reconfigurations The landscape metrics of LCZ types that significantly correlate with wayfinding in statistics have been identified (Table 2). Defining the current status of these metrics in each regional city is instrumental in determining the empirical strategies for spatial reconfiguration in land use. Hot spot analysis revealed the spatial clusters of those landscape metrics having statistical significance with wayfinding, indicating the cities with significantly different spatial configura- tions than others. For class-level metrics of SPLIT, PD, and IJI, their spatial clusters among cities were pre- sented in Fig 6. The cold spot of SPLIT values of LCZ 2 (compact mid-rise) was demonstrated in Zhongshan city (Fig 6(a)) where the LCZ 2 type was substantially aggregated due to its sig- nificantly lowest value of SPLIT compared to neighboring cities. At the same time, Zhongshan Fig 5. The spatial patterns of intelligibility-based wayfinding among the GBA cities. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289780.g005 Table 2. The correlations between intelligibility and landscape metrics of LCZ types. (a) Class level LCZ 2 LCZ 3 LCZ 5 LCZ 6 LCZ 9 LCZ D City intelligibility SPLIT PD PD PD IJI IJI p-values (< 0.01) 0.0087 0.00046 0.00086 0.0027 0.0052 0.0065 r 0.74 -0.87 -0.85 -0.81 -0.77 -0.76 (b) Patch level LCZ 1 LCZ 2 LCZ 9 LCZ D City intelligibility ENN ENN SIMI ENN

p-value (< 0.01) 0.0054 0.00042 0.007 0.0094 r 0.77 0.87 0.76 0.74 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289780.t002 PLOS ONE The spatial configuration for wayfinding PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289780 September 8, 2023 10 / 18