Three-dimensional embodied visibility graph analysis: Investigating and analyzing values along an outdoor path

In visibility analysis, a major focus is the relationship between people and the environment, and one of the most important spatial concepts is Isovist. Although typically represented in two dimensions in architecture, this concept has recently been computed in a three-dimensional environment. However, embodied 3D isovist Theory as developed to date does not account for locomotion. In this paper, therefore, we combine that theory with 3D visibility graph theory to develop and propose the Three-Dimensional Embodied Visibility Graph (3D E-VGA). To present and evaluate the proposed model in an architectural environment, we analyze the three-dimensional scene of a pedestrian moving along a path in an outdoor environment, specifically that of a container housing design project in Cairo known as “Sheltainer.” Further, we investigate the relationships between the t-d ratio, the v-h ratio, vertical jaggedness, connectivity, and integration values and conclude that of these the last three-vertical jaggedness, connectivity, and integration- are significantly correlated with each other. However, the relationship between v-h, t-d, and connectivity and integration values has not been determined. Therefore, analyzing both values related to embodied 3D isovist and 3D visibility graph provides us with a more comprehensive and effective analysis of pedestrians’ visual perceptions along a path.