Análise multidimensional de caminhabilidade de um percurso urbano com monitoramento ambiental dinâmico

Abstract

The precariousness of infrastructure intended for pedestrians in cities, marked by critical accessibility conditions and aggravated by the intensification of extreme climatic events that compromise environmental comfort in outdoor spaces, reinforces the urgency of revising current urban design parameters. In this context, microscale walkability diagnosis can provide indications for more effective solutions. This study aimed to analyze, from a multidimensional perspective, the walkability of an urban route through an integrated method that combines objective and subjective data, including dynamic environmental monitoring using the portable PLEMS (Portable Lowcost Environmental Monitoring System) equipment; an urban audit conducted using the MAPS (Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes) instrument; and subjective perception data obtained through questionnaires. Twenty walks were conducted along the same route, divided into street segments, intersections, and stopping points, each carried out with two participants under different mobility conditions: one walking and the other using a wheelchair, whose perceptions were compared. The analysis revealed that the walkability of the route is compromised by multiple factors, both physical and environmental. General weaknesses in pedestrian infrastructure were observed, especially related to the precariousness of sidewalks and intersections and the lack of adequate shading. The questionnaires showed significant differences between participant groups: those who walked reported greater sensitivity to environmental variations and thermal discomfort, while those in wheelchairs presented more neutral perceptions. Even with sufficient shading, segments with poorer physical infrastructure were perceived as less comfortable, indicating that, in critical situations, infrastructure exerts a greater influence on comfort perception than isolated environmental factors. The results suggest that targeted interventions, such as sidewalk maintenance, intersection improvements, installation of street furniture, and strengthening of shading strategies, can contribute to encouraging outdoor stay and walking. The research also highlights the relevance of incorporating users’ opinions into the formulation of public policies that precede urban design, strengthening social participation in decision-making and contributing to greater equity in access to and use of public spaces.