Human Fieldwork

Question 1

Human fieldwork aim

Answer 1

To investigate the differences between redeveloped and non-redeveloped areas in central Birmingham

Question 2

Why Birmingham?

Answer 2

-pedestrianised areas (safe)
-easily accessed by bus
-recently redeveloped areas within walking distance
-around 1 hour away

Question 3

Hypothesis

Answer 3

The redeveloped areas have better environmental quality, higher pedestrian flows and lower vehicle use than in non-redeveloped areas

Question 4

Risk assessment

Answer 4

Slipping (wear walking boots, stay on paths)
Weather (wear sun cream and hat or coat)
Roads (cross safely)
Medical (bring first aid kit)

Question 5

Data collection - Environmental quality survey

Answer 5

-stratified method to pick 3 redeveloped places (Brindley place, Centenary square and new street) and 1 non-redeveloped place (Hinckley street)
-bi polar index from -2 to +2 (-2 being the worst, +2 being the best) for a range of factors such as litter, upkeep of buildings, pollution levels, noise
-considered how redevelopment affects the environment, helping address our hypothesis
-quick, cheap and easy but not valid due to bias/ opinions
-could have used a decibel meter to measure noise but this would only make one factor more reliable out of the range I was testing

Question 6

Data presentation - Radar diagrams

Answer 6

-shows all data in one place but can be confusing as lines cross through each other
-to avoid confusion using different colours for each place helps
-the smaller the area of the radar shape meant it had a lower environmental quality

Question 7

Extending the investigation

Answer 7

-go back under different weather conditions/ different times of year to find an average
-different method (questionnaires)
-apply same methods to another city and compare