ISF Workshop: Urban innovation through
walkability and spatial cognition
September 19-21, 2022, Tel Aviv University
Dr. Orit Rotem-Mindali
Dr. Orit Rotem-Mindali is an expert in urban geography, transportation, and environmental policy. Orit is the Head of the Department of Geography and Environment, Bar Ilan University, and (co)Head of the Regulation and Environmental Policy MA program. Her field of study seeks to understand individual behavior while focusing on the reciprocal relationship of this behavior with urban, regional, economic and social processes and their impact on the environment Dr Rotem-Mindali holds numerous grants including, H2020, Israeli Science Foundation and Ministry of Agriculture. The interface between mobility, the urban space and the environment has always been the focal interest in Orit’s research. Her studies introduce new perspectives on the pattern of urban land uses and their impact on the environment. For example, the relationship of urban density and energy consumption to demonstrate the influence of land use policy as a demand management tool for planners and policy makers another example is studying the role of local land-use on the urban heat island effect by applying innovative methods of remote sensing into urban planning. Orit continues to develop innovative approaches that bridges between different disciplines, spatial and environmental analysis.
The pedestrian women: Fear and mobility in public spaces of the smart city
Abstract:
The gaps that exist in perceptions of fear among pedestrian women compared to pedestrian men in public spaces require careful attention. Sense of fear and actual risk of assault are considered to affect women and men differently at different stages of life, and moreover, limit mobility and exclude women from public spaces. This study takes an exploratory approach that addresses fear of walking in public spaces among women in terms of the theory of social representation. According thereto, this study adopts fear as a collective phenomenon pertaining to the community of women, which is built jointly by individuals in their daily conversation and action.
This research rests on a broad range of environmental factors, both spatial and temporal, being considered important predictors of perceived fear. Moreover, in the field of ICT (information communication technologies), efforts are continuously being made to develop applications promoting personal safety. However, despite important strides toward an improved understanding of how safety perceptions are shaped, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have used social representation theory to study fear among pedestrian women. Furthermore, questions concerning the reciprocal effect of new ICT and environmental and physical design on perceptions of fear and mobility remain largely unanswered. Perception of fear can influence mobility, and these may have an impact on the quality of life of the community via travel patterns and mode choice, and could ultimately impact the economy, sustainability and health. In light of the use of ICT to improve safety, this research seeks to understand women’s perceptions of fear in public spaces and its effect on mobility and the impact of embracing related ICT on these perceptions.
(Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, 11:30-13:00 IL)
