Visual Urban Space Assessment from Sky Shape Analysis

Abstract

Most of existing computer methods to analyse the perception of the open spaces do not consider the Gibsonian motion perspective, i.e., the gradual changes in the visual field in the rate of displacement. This paper describes a new approach considering this motion perspective to analyse paths and routes in urban environments. Based on Teller’s spherical metric, it proposes to use the skeletonisation as a way to trace the variations of the sky shape between successive views. It is thereby possible to structure the route into sequences, according to its potential interest in the urban environment.