Human Footpaths in the Outer Suburbs of Ottawa: Distribution, Network Connectivity, and Walkability

Abstract

This research has three objectives; 1) describe the distribution of footpaths in the outer suburbs of Ottawa, 2) quantify the impact footpaths have on network connectivity in the outer western suburban neighborhoods of Ottawa, 3) quantify the impact of footpaths on destination-based walkability measures in the outer western suburban neighborhoods of Ottawa. The distribution of footpaths is assessed using a principal component analysis on 86 observations (footpaths) and 11 variables (land usage, transit connection, income, population density). Network connectivity is measured using the link-node ratio, the gamma index, and the alpha index, as well a node betweenness centrality. Walkability is measured in ArcGIS through an origin-destination cost matrix. The results show that the distribution of footpaths cannot be explained by the selected variables. Footpaths slightly decrease overall network connectivity and re-work node betweenness centrality. Footpaths have no impact on destination-based walkability. And so, footpaths may serve as better pedestrian routes but not necessarily as faster routes through the outer western suburbs of Ottawa.