Placemaking through the pedestrian’s eyes (Ref: ABCE-ISBE-AN)

About the Project

With rapid urbanisation and the increasing densification of cities, enabling people to navigate and experience urban space confidently is essential for creating inclusive and sustainable environments. Effective placemaking and urban design is not only a practical necessity but also a foundation for vibrant public life, as clear and intuitive spatial cues can encourage people to use public spaces more often and explore a wider range of destinations. Use of urban space is a complex cognitive process that depends on how individuals perceive, interpret, and remember spatial information. These internal mental representations are shaped by recognisable urban elements, visual hierarchies, and the dynamic interaction between people and their surroundings. Yet, despite its significance, our understanding of how pedestrians visually engage with and make sense of urban spaces remains limited. This project seeks to advance that understanding by using eye-tracking methods to examine how people read and interpret the urban environment during real and simulated journeys. By analysing gaze patterns, attention distribution, and visual behaviour, we aim to uncover the environmental features that most strongly support, or hinder, legible and walkable places. The project will integrate eye-tracking data with spatial analysis and statistical modelling to develop an evidence-based framework for assessing streetscape walkability and the experiential quality of urban settings. The resulting insights and predictive tools have the potential to support planners and designers in identifying areas where the public realm underperforms and where targeted interventions can improve pedestrian experience. Ultimately, this research will contribute to more sustainable and human-centred planning and design practices, reducing car-dependency, strengthening local accessibility, and promoting healthier, more inclusive urban lifestyles for all groups within the community. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of the topic, the candidate could have a background in any relevant STEM subject. The candidate should have strong analytical skills and ideally have experience in programming. Further research direction will be steered by the candidate’s interests and background.

Name of primary supervisor/CDT lead:
Asya Natapov a.natapov@lboro.ac.uk
https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/abce/staff/asya-natapov/

Name of secondary supervisor:
Thom Wilcockson
https://www.lboro.ac.uk/schools/sport-exercise-health-sciences/people/thom-wilcockson

Entry requirements:
Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. A relevant master’s degree and/or experience is desirable.

English language requirements:
Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website (http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/applicants/english/).

Bench fees required: No

Closing date of advert: 30th June 2026

Start date: October 2026

Full-time/part-time availability: Full-time 3 years

Fee band: 2025/26 Band RB (UK £5,006, International £28,600)

How to apply:
All applications must be made online and must include a completed studentship application form (instead of a personal statement) and a two-page research proposal based on the project description outlining how you would approach the project and what methods you would use. Under programme name, please select 'Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering (Built environment)'. Please quote advert reference ABCE-ISBE-AN.
To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents including an up-to-date CV, but a personal statement is not required.
ABCE will use these selection criteria to make a decision on your application.

Project search terms:
architecture, psychology, urban planning

Email Address ABCE:
abce.pgr@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk