Street Network Configuration: A Criterion to Assess Walkability Potential of a Traditional and Modern Settlement in Chennai, India

Walking is a physical activity that comes with numerous health benefits. The walkability of a built environment is influenced by the spatial characteristics of the street network. Traditional organic settlements and planned contemporary neighborhoods have different spatial configurations, which affects their walkability potential. In this study, two urban settlements, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, namely, Triplicane and Anna Nagar were analyzed to determine their walkability potential. The study involved space syntax analysis using DepthmapX to evaluate the syntactic values of connectivity, integration, intelligibility, and synergy of the street network in both areas. The findings of the study were validated through on-site evaluation. The research revealed that both settlements had varied levels of connectivity and integration. The study concluded that the walkability potential of a neighborhood is not only dependent on the spatial characteristics of the street network, but, also on the objective site conditions, microscale-built environment attributes, and walkability barriers.