Assessment model for evaluating greenway network connectivity in University Campus

Abstract

This paper presents a method for assessing greenway network connectivity in a university campus to serve as a non-motorized route. The methodology is structured in five phases: (1) data insertion of the physical characteristics ofthe landscape resources, (2) individual assessment of each physical element, (3) composite assessment, (4) evaluation matrix score value of the greenway characteristics and (5) definition of good , moderate and poorgreenway connectivity in campus. The GIS is used for systematically investigate and identify the factors affecting a current connectivity of campus greenway in University Technology Malaysia. It begun by dividing the study area into three routes, namely, (1) a ring road, (2) a main entrance, and (3) secondary roads connecting residential college, faculty and lake. Each route with a different layer was analyzed according to four attributes, namely, (1) walkway width and its continuity, (2) fragmentary elements such as road junction, drain, signage board and lighting pole, (3) tree characteristics in term of its canopy shapes and planting interval and (4) nodes such as shelter, bus stop, cafeteria and garden. For the purpose of this paper, a ring road greenway is taken as a main route to demonstrate the assessment model for evaluating greenway network connectivity in university campus. The result shows that this model can be a reference for the work to measure the connectivity and quality of greenway formation and characteristics in the university campus. In this way, individual and composite assessment methods were found to be useful for the evaluation of greenway network.