Advancing Behavioral Mapping a Step Forward: Meeting Urban Planning’s Objectives

Abstract

Amidst major urbanization and technologization processes, scholars have been seeking innovative concepts and methods for studying urban environments and settings. Behavioral mapping was developed in the 1970s by environmental psychologists. However, despite its potential to address new challenges, the method remains relatively underdeveloped in the field of urban planning. This paper juxtaposes the new objectives of urban planning with the qualities of behavioral mapping to discuss the method’s relevance for studying dynamic urban environments. Drawing on case studies of complex urban settings of different scales (a community park and a hospital), we offer a systematic analysis of applying behavioral mapping in urban planning and conclude about the use of the methods and its potential to address contemporary challenges faced by urban planners.