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

suggest scattered distributions of LCZ D patches (Table 2). This contrast requires some supple- mentary analysis methods, such as social surveys and fieldwork. 4.3 Spatial reconfigurations strategies for improving wayfinding 4.3.1 Dispersed compact high- and mid-rise built-ups. Higher values of ENN and SPLIT have a positive impact on intelligibility-based wayfinding, in LCZ 1 (compact high-rise) and LCZ 2 (compact mid-rise), respectively (Table 2). Thus, for a better wayfinding ability, we suggest increasing the straight-line distance between LCZ 1 or subdividing LCZ 2 into smaller entities, as shown in Fig 7(a) and 7(b). From an urban function perspective, compact high- and mid-rise built-up areas (LCZ 1 and LCZ 2), as commercial or business districts, are gener- ally located in the city centers and usually have great accessibility. However, LCZ 1 and LCZ 2 may not connect to surrounding spaces well, because more central regions possibly have dif- ferent spatial characteristics than other built-up types (e.g., distant residential districts). Low local connectivity but high accessibility in LCZ 1 and LCZ 2 causes lower intelligibility levels and thereby increased difficulties in wayfinding. According to our empirical results, more dis- persed distributions of LCZ 1 and LCZ 2 types are reasonable. 4.3.2 Agglomerated compact low-rise, open mid- and low-rise built-ups. In LCZ 3 (compact low-rise), LCZ 5 (open mid-rise), and LCZ 6 (open low-rise) types, PD values are negatively correlated to intelligibility-based wayfinding (Table 2), which means that more

agglomerated LCZ 3, LCZ 5, and LCZ 6 are desirable by combining and connecting the indi- vidual small LCZ patches into several larger-scale units. An example of agglomerating LCZ 5 has been illustrated in Fig 8. The open built-up areas (LCZ5 and LCZ 6) generally have abun- dant trees or green-spaces [19] and thus have greater economic values particularly in the high- density regions. Higher-income cohorts may occupy the majority of LCZ 5 and LCZ 6, result- ing in spatial segregation, gentrification, and lower accessibility. Spatial segregation causes dis- parities in spatial configuration and, as a result, poor wayfinding. Moreover, ‘urban village’ is typical of LCZ 3 (compact low-rise), as an intermediate urban form in the urbanization pro- cess [58], and has an isolated spatial configuration from the rest of the urban spaces. Thus, peo- ple around these urban villages are more likely to become disoriented and find it difficult to travel effortlessly by accurately positioning themselves within the city. Therefore, the sugges- tion of more aggregated LCZ 3, LCZ 5, and LCZ 6 types allows for less spatial segregation, bet- ter spatial co-developments, and thus better wayfinding. Fig 8. Diagrams to illustrate the spatial reconfigurations of LCZ 1(a), LCZ 2 (b), and LCZ 5 (c). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289780.g008 PLOS ONE The spatial configuration for wayfinding PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289780 September 8, 2023 14 / 18