Biomechanically driven street environment design for urban regeneration
Abstract
This paper proposes a biomechanics-based street environment optimization scheme for urban regeneration, integrating biomechanical principles into urban street designs to enhance pedestrian comfort, safety, and overall health. The approach optimizes sidewalks, barrier-free facilities, public seating, and traffic flow lines, focusing on the biomechanical needs of pedestrians, including gait stability, joint stress, and muscle load. To further validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, additional empirical studies were conducted in diverse urban settings with varying pedestrian densities, surface types, and weather conditions. Simulations were also carried out to predict the scalability and robustness of the design strategies under real-world conditions, ensuring their applicability for future large-scale urban regeneration projects. This practical assessment provides a foundational framework for future urban regeneration projects, particularly in enhancing accessibility and safety for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with mobility impairments. Furthermore, these findings contribute to the development of smart cities by integrating biomechanics into urban planning, fostering more sustainable and health-conscious public spaces.
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