AESOP Lecture at the University of Łódź
Akkelies van Nes on “Spatial Networks and Social Equity: Applying Space Syntax for Sustainable Urban Development”
Łódź, 15 September 2025 – As part of the AESOP Lecture Series, Professor Akkelies van Nes of Western Norway University of Applied Sciences delivered a lecture and workshop at the University of Łódź, hosted by the Faculty of Economics and Sociology. The event gathered academics and practitioners from Poland and Central Europe, with additional participants joining via livestream.
Her lecture introduced the theoretical foundations and applied uses of space syntax, positioning it as a powerful methodology for connecting spatial form with social equity and sustainable development. Using empirical studies and methodological advances, she explained how spatial configuration influences patterns of accessibility, pedestrian flows, and social opportunities.
From Metric Distance to Human Experience
The lecture began with a reflection on how humans perceive and navigate urban space. Akkelies van Nes distinguished between metric distance—the literal length of routes—and psychological distance, which reflects how people actually experience and prioritize paths. She emphasized that spatial networks shape everyday life not only through physical measures, but also through perceptions of accessibility and effort.
She explained how methodological innovations in the early 2000s, particularly angular and segment analysis, refined space syntax beyond its original axial-line approach. These advances, she argued, allow researchers and practitioners to more precisely capture how people move through cities, how streets and intersections generate flows, and how urban form structures social opportunities.
By contrasting space syntax results with GPS or administrative models, she demonstrated that conventional planning often underestimates the importance of visibility, continuity, and spatial hierarchy. “It is not only the shortest path that matters,” she observed, “but the most intelligible one.”
Discussion with Abdelbaseer A. Mohamed
The lecture was followed by a discussion with Abdelbaseer A. Mohamed (Social-Ecological Systems Analysis Lab, University of Łódź), who engaged directly with its theoretical and methodological implications.
Dr Mohamed highlighted the importance of distinguishing between physical metrics and the psychological or experiential dimensions of space that guide people’s movement. Drawing on natural movement theory, he noted that people often prefer routes with minimal directional changes or angular deviations, even when these are not the shortest in metric terms.
The exchange also addressed whether space syntax should be combined with traditional engineering approaches. Both speakers emphasized the need to select indicators—metric, topological, or angular—based on the specific research question and context, rather than treating any one method as universal.
Finally, Dr Mohamed stressed the social-theoretical grounding of space syntax, rooted in the work of Durkheim and others, which gives it unique strength in linking urban form to collective behaviour. This emphasis reinforced the view that space syntax is not only a technical tool, but a method that captures how spatial structures shape social life.
Workshop: DepthmapX in Practice
After the lecture and discussion, participants joined a hands-on workshop introducing DepthmapX, a key software for space syntax analysis. Guided by Akkelies van Nes, the session provided step-by-step training in creating segment maps, running angular and topological analyses, visibility graph analysis, and interpreting results across different urban scales.
Using examples from different urban contexts, participants examined how urban accessibility and integration vary depending on scale, and how these insights can inform planning for mobility, regeneration, and social inclusion. The workshop was particularly valuable for early-career researchers and practitioners seeking to apply space syntax in real-world projects.
Bridging Theory and Policy
Throughout the event, Akkelies van Nes emphasized that space syntax is more than a technical model—it is a bridge between urban design, social equity, and sustainable development. She pointed to applications in regeneration projects, public transport planning, and urban safety strategies, showing how spatial analysis can guide inclusive and evidence-based policymaking.
The discussions in Łódź highlighted both the analytical potential of space syntax and the importance of methodological reflexivity, interdisciplinary dialogue, and the grounding of planning tools in lived urban experience.
Biographical Notes
Professor Dr. Akkelies van Nes is a leading scholar in space syntax, currently working at the Department of Civil Engineering at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences in Bergen. She has made significant contributions to the field by developing methodologies that integrate space syntax with GIS-based analyses, enhancing the study of urban morphology, crime patterns, and spatial accessibility. Her research has provided new insights into how spatial configurations shape socioeconomic interactions, urban vitality, and human behaviour in the built environment. She is the co-author of Introduction to Space Syntax in Urban Studies (2021). She has published extensively on spatial networks, urban development, and the relationship between spatial structure and social processes. In addition to her scholarly work, she has actively contributed to the space syntax community by organizing international symposia, including serving as chairwoman for both the 5th International Space Syntax Symposium at TU Delft in 2005 and the 13th International Space Syntax Symposium in Bergen in 2022. As one of the foremost experts in space syntax globally, she has delivered keynote lectures and led workshops across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas.
Abdelbaseer A. Mohamed
Researcher in Residence | Associate Professor in Urban Design & Planning University of Lodz, Poland | Al-Azhar University & Egyptian Russian University, Cairo, Egypt Dr. Abdelbaseer A. Mohamed is a distinguished researcher and academic in the field of urban design and planning, with a particular focus on urban systems, socio-spatial dynamics, and public spaces. He currently works as a Researcher in Residence at the Social-Ecological Systems Analysis Lab at the University of Lodz, Poland. He is also an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering at Al-Azhar University, as well as in the Architecture Department at Egyptian Russian University in Cairo, Egypt. Throughout his career, Dr. Mohamed has published extensively in high-impact international journals such as Landscape and Urban Planning, Journal of Urban Affairs, and Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. His studies explore critical urban issues, including the commercialization of public parks, urban green space access, and the impact of infrastructure on social inequality. He has contributed to several global research projects, including the EU Horizon 2020 CLEARING HOUSE project, and has been a permanent reviewer for the International Space Syntax Symposium.
