Human Orientation in Transportation Terminals

A method for measuring human orientation in transportation terminals has been developed. Visibility can be measured by the existence or nonexistence of sight lines. These sight lines form the arcs in a graph where the facilities form the nodes. By measuring the connectivity of such graphs, indices for visibility can be determined. Sight line analysis is a simple technique that can be applied to existing terminal layouts and signage systems or to future floor plans of new or expanding terminals. The method will determine the visibility of the terminal as a whole or of any of its subsystems and components. Changes in layout or signage can now be evaluated in terms of visibility and thus human orientation. The methodology was applied to eight air terminals, one rail terminal, and one bus terminal. The floor plan and signage system of one air terminal was improved to demonstrate how these changes can be measured by changes in the visibility indices.