Pedestrian-friendly cities are a recent global trend due to the various urbanization problems. Since humans are greatly influenced by sight while walking, this study identified the physical and visual characteristics of the street environment that affect pedestrian satisfaction. In this study, vast amounts of visual data were collected and analyzed using computer vision techniques. Furthermore, these data were analyzed through a machine learning prediction model and SHAP algorithm. As a result, every visual feature of the streetscape, for example, the visible area and urban design quality, had a greater effect on pedestrian satisfaction than any physical features. Therefore, to build a street with high pedestrian satisfaction, the perspective of pedestrians must be considered, and wide sidewalks, fewer lanes, and the proper arrangement of street furniture are required. In conclusion, visually, low enclosure, adequate complexity, and large green areas combine to create a highly satisfying pedestrian walkway. Through this study, we could suggest an approach from a visual perspective for the pedestrian environment of the street and see the possibility of using computer vision techniques.

Recently, local shops and small houses in Seoul have been converted to cafes, western style restaurants, and large chain stores. These changes, recognized as commercial gentrification in residential areas, are now a big issue in Korean society. This phenomenon has some positive effects, such as the emergence of new consumption spaces and improved neighborhood images. However, this study concentrated on changes in regional characteristics, landscape, and industry homogenization. This study demonstrates the presence of a cyclical environmental change process commonly identified in areas of gentrification and identifies characteristics of individual stages of the gentrification process. The results indicate that medium-scale local stores in Stage 1 changed to small-scale food and beverage businesses in Stage 2. Then, in Stage 3, they changed to large-scale clothing retailers. In particular, the process of change from Stage 2 to Stage 3 revealed that, as the diversity of business types decreases, their uses change and the proportion of chain stores increases. In other words, although Stage 2 has the highest level of mixed use and density, indicating the greatest level of vitality, commercial gentrification to Stage 3 results in decreases in use, the number of aged buildings, and density. Thus, Stage 3 can be identified as the stage in which streets lose their vitality, as suggested by Jacobs. To maintain street vitality, it is suggested that commercial district management occurs during the transformation from Stage 2 to Stage 3 of commercial gentrification.

This study focuses on whether signboards attract people’s visual concentration as a foreground element of the streetscape and check the difference in streetscape image according to the area of the signboard. For this purpose, 133 street-view photographs were taken at five major commercial districts in Seoul and 17 photos were selected for this study. The photos were then classified into the High Signboard Group (HSG) and Low Signboard Group (LSG) according to the area of the signboards and conducted eye-tracking experiments and surveys. Finally, data from 33 people were collected and a t-test was conducted to identify differences between the two groups. As a result, the number of fixations, the fixation time, and the revisits of fixation on signboards were measured higher in HSG, and the distance of gaze movement (saccade) was lower. The results of the image survey analysis showed that HSG groups had low streetscape satisfaction, signboard satisfaction, and streetscape aesthetic quality. However, Dynamic and Interesting factors were high. Taken together, the signboard can be seen as a landscape element that focuses attention by giving people an active and interesting image, which shows the importance and possibility of using signboards in future streetscape design.

This study examines commercial gentrification, focusing on areas where commercial gentrification occurred or was expected to occur in Seoul, Korea. To identify the general phases of commercial gentrification, we used data collected from January 2015 to January 2019 by cluster analysis. Cluster analysis was conducted with a ratio of terms including “birth”, “replacement”, and “vacancy”, and characteristics including the “homogenization index”, “chain stores”, “vitalization”, and the “front width of stores” were applied. The contributions of this study are as follows. Three clusters were formed and supplemented according to differing types of industry change. Cluster 1 represents a stage where commerce has begun to penetrate residential areas, and it can be seen that gentrification has just started. Cluster 2 is more commercialized than Cluster 1, but characteristics remain in the vicinity of neighborhood commercial facilities. Cluster 3 describes a phase of full vitalization, characterized by franchise stores. The implications of this study are as follows. Commercial gentrification is proven to have distinctly different stages of commercial characterization that can be interpreted and observed sequentially, thereby requiring a differentiated approach to commercial gentrification by phase.

The development of an equitable city has been the primary goal of recent urban planning. Whereas previous urban planning has addressed problems caused by urbanization and population growth, current urban planning must closely consider demographic changes such as an aging society. An aging population, characterized by an increased need for regular healthcare and a growing reliance on public transport, can pose a major challenge to equitable cities. Thus, it is necessary to scrutinize the medical and public transportation links in urban planning strategies to create a more equitable city in an aging society. This study analyzed primary care accessibility for older adults using public transportation in Seoul and considered whether it is socially and economically equitable. Primary care accessibility was derived using the modified 2SFCA model and the Seoul Public Transportation API and social equity was analyzed using the concentration index and concentration curve. The results showed that primary care accessibility of the elderly is related to public transportation mobility, medical facilities and the distribution of elderly populations, revealing both social and economic inequality. This analysis suggests the need for integrated urban planning for an equitable city in an aging society, with implications for efficient resource distribution.

Place attachment is an emotion that people experience in connection to a specific place and it is needed to maintain a sustainable neighborhood community. The emotion is affected by various factors, such as experience, function, environment, and satisfaction. This study focuses on commercial structures, which are one feature that characterizes the physical environments of neighborhoods. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of commercial activities in different commercial environments on social bonding and place attachment in residents. Two sites were selected for analysis due to their different commercial environments, and path analysis was used to examine the relationships among factors. The results indicate that commercial activities, which can vary according to commercial type, had both direct effects and indirect effects through social bonding between residents on place attachment. These results suggest that the commercial environment is an important element affecting the community and place attachment of residents in neighborhoods.