GIS-based monitoring and evaluation system as an urban planning tool to enhance the quality of pedestrian mobility in Parma

This paper presents a tool to assess the pedestrian accessibility to local services in residential areas, with special attention to geo-referenced mapping models. This study developed a GIS database, an updated monitoring tool, in order to determine the current offer in terms of pedestrian connectivity in our urban residential areas in general, and more specifically in the case-study of Parma. A series of value judgements on the intrinsic properties of the walkways – in terms of state of maintenance, quality and safety – have been summarized combining different descriptive attributes. This value judgements related to the arcs that make up the shortest path from each dwelling to the nearby public facilities of primary interest. Despite the resistance of our municipalities to consider it a useful tool in decision-making and planning practices, it may play a supporting role in upgrading public services plans or in planning pedestrian network maintenance or future expansion.