The motivation for this research is a perceived gap in knowledge regarding the complex relationships between the physical form of the urban environment; its environmental performance as expressed through stocks and flows of materials and energy (urban metabolism); and its experienced physical and psychological qualities (urban ambience). The objective is to develop a practical methodological structure which, through investigating the relationships between these domains, may help inform the evaluation, design and development of more sustainable human settlements. One expression of this apparent knowledge gap is the ambiguity around the classification of urban form and identification of a suitable taxonomic framework to support analysis. Urban morphological research and practice is critically reviewed to derive a rigorous definition of the 'urban structural unit' (USU) to facilitate the subdivision and description of urban form across spatial scales. Application of this construct to a study site in Sydney, Australia provides the basis for subsequent exploration. Investigation of theoretical and applied perspectives on urban ecology, metabolism and design enables distillation of a utilitarian set of structural, functional and ambience properties of the USU. A variety of quantitative methods pertinent to evaluation of these properties is systematically examined to derive a streamlined analytical methodology, integrating hemispherical image analysis, space syntax, isovist and material accounting methods within the USU framework. The efficacy of this methodological 'toolkit' is tested in the final, empirical stage of the research, focussing mainly on the campus of the University of New South Wales. Determination of a range of material, microclimatic, ecosystemic, fractal, syntactic and isovist metrics provides a preliminary quantitative description of the campus USU in terms of its interrelated metabolic and ambience properties. This is further explained and interpreted through multivariate statistical analysis. The results suggest that the USU represents a robust framework for urban evaluation, and application of a relatively parsimonious suite of analytical methods enables a useful initial examination of the relations between significant aspects of urban form, metabolism and ambience. The outcomes of such an evaluation can directly inform built environment practice from a sustainability perspective, and also highlight areas for more detailed investigation.

The motivation for this research is a perceived gap in knowledge regarding the complex relationships between the physical form of the urban environment; its environmental performance as expressed through stocks and flows of materials and energy (urban metabolism); and its experienced physical and psychological qualities (urban ambience). The objective is to develop a practical methodological structure which, through investigating the relationships between these domains, may help inform the evaluation, design and development of more sustainable human settlements. One expression of this apparent knowledge gap is the ambiguity around the classification of urban form and identification of a suitable taxonomic framework to support analysis. Urban morphological research and practice is critically reviewed to derive a rigorous definition of the 'urban structural unit' (USU) to facilitate the subdivision and description of urban form across spatial scales. Application of this construct to a study site in Sydney, Australia provides the basis for subsequent exploration. Investigation of theoretical and applied perspectives on urban ecology, metabolism and design enables distillation of a utilitarian set of structural, functional and ambience properties of the USU. A variety of quantitative methods pertinent to evaluation of these properties is systematically examined to derive a streamlined analytical methodology, integrating hemispherical image analysis, space syntax, isovist and material accounting methods within the USU framework. The efficacy of this methodological 'toolkit' is tested in the final, empirical stage of the research, focussing mainly on the campus of the University of New South Wales. Determination of a range of material, microclimatic, ecosystemic, fractal, syntactic and isovist metrics provides a preliminary quantitative description of the campus USU in terms of its interrelated metabolic and ambience properties. This is further explained and interpreted through multivariate statistical analysis. The results suggest that the USU represents a robust framework for urban evaluation, and application of a relatively parsimonious suite of analytical methods enables a useful initial examination of the relations between significant aspects of urban form, metabolism and ambience. The outcomes of such an evaluation can directly inform built environment practice from a sustainability perspective, and also highlight areas for more detailed investigation.

[pt] A Prefeitura da cidade do Rio de Janeiro e o Estado do Rio de Janeiro assinaram, no ano de 2009, um termo com o Comitê Olímpico Internacional, COI, a fim de implementar diversas alterações urbanas para que a cidade fosse nomeada sede dos Jogos Olímpicos de 2016. A mobilidade urbana teve uma atenção especial e foi escolhida a solução do sistema de transporte coletivo BRT para conectar grande parte da cidade nas zonas oeste, norte e leste, interligando, por outros sistemas de transportes, às zonas sul e centro. Sua implementação demandou grandes obras de infraestrutura urbana e os bairros mais impactados sofreram com demolições de prédios residenciais e comerciais, alterações e/ou retiradas de canteiros paisagísticos, desvios de ruas, travessias de pedestres distanciadas, construção de estações no meio das principais ruas e avenidas, entre outras alterações. Esta pesquisa observou as intervenções ocorridas para a implantação do BRT e analisou a paisagem urbana modificada, como foco de estudo, a consequência da intervenção do espaço pelas infraestruturas. O objetivo principal foi entender o impacto produzido pelas mudanças na paisagem urbana após a intervenção do espaço urbano, de modo a compreender como as infraestruturas afetaram a qualidade de vida dos moradores e usuários da região. A pesquisa buscou analisar as mudanças na paisagem urbana, tanto do ponto de vista estético quanto funcional, a fim de identificar os principais desafios enfrentados pela população local. Para isso, os objetivos específicos da pesquisa consistiram em identificar a mudança da paisagem urbana antes e depois da implantação da infraestrutura do BRT, e desdobraram-se em discutir os impactos da infraestrutura de mobilidade na paisagem urbana, bem como compreender os impactos das infraestruturas de mobilidade na paisagem urbana e seus efeitos no espaço urbano. A metodologia foi baseada em um estudo de caso ajustado ao trecho do sistema modal BRT da linha Transcarioca, localizado na Av. Vicente de Carvalho entre as estações de Vicente de Carvalho e Vila Kosmos, no entroncamento dos bairros de Vicente de Carvalho, Vila da Penha e Vila Kosmos, na zona norte da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Para a análise, foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica cimentada nos conceitos de infraestrutura, espaço urbano e paisagem urbana. Além disso, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas e observações assistemáticas, bem como registros fotográficos da área em estudo. Para avaliar as mudanças ocorridas, foi feita uma análise comparativa de imagens utilizando os aplicativos Google Earth e Street View, com o objetivo de perceber as transformações que ocorreram ao longo do tempo. A pesquisa permitiu afirmar que a falta de um planejamento urbano mais sensível, concomitantemente à inadequada implantação do BRT, causou alterações profundas na paisagem urbana dos bairros afetados e, portanto, na percepção e nas relações dos moradores da região com seu entorno próximo. / [en] The City Hall of the city of Rio de Janeiro and the State of Rio de Janeiro signed in 2009 a term with the International Olympic Committee, IOC, to implement several urban changes for the city to be nominated to host the 2016 Olympic Games. Urban mobility received special attention and the BRT public transportation system was chosen to connect most of the city in the West, North and East zones, interconnecting, through other transportation systems, the South and Center zones. Its implementation required major urban infrastructure works and the most affected neighborhoods suffered from the demolition of residential and commercial buildings, alterations and/or removal of landscaping, detour of streets, distanced pedestrian crossings, construction of stations in the middle of the main streets and avenues, among other changes. This research was based on the interventions that occurred for the implementation of the BRT and analyzed the modified urban landscape, as the focus of study, the consequence of the intervention of space by the infrastructure. The main objective was to understand the impact produced by the changes in the urban landscape after the intervention of urban space, to understand how the infrastructures affected the quality of life of the residents and users of the region. The research sought to analyze the changes in the urban landscape, both from an aesthetic and functional point of view, to identify the main challenges faced by the local population. To this end, the specific objectives of the research consisted in identifying the change in the urban landscape before and after the implementation of the BRT infrastructure and unfolded into discussing the impacts of mobility infrastructure on the urban landscape, as well as understanding the impacts of mobility infrastructure on the urban landscape and its effects on urban space. The methodology was based on a case study adjusted to the stretch of the BRT modal system of the Transcarioca line, located on Vicente de Carvalho Avenue between the stations of Vicente de Carvalho and Vila Kosmos, at the junction of the neighborhoods of Vicente de Carvalho, Vila da Penha and Vila Kosmos, in the northern zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro. For the analysis, a bibliographic review was carried out cemented in the concepts of infrastructure, urban space and urban landscape. In addition, semi-structured interviews and systematic observations were carried out, as well as photographic records of the area under study. To evaluate the changes that have occurred, a comparative analysis of images was made using Google Earth and Street View applications, with the objective of perceiving the transformations that have occurred over time. The research allowed us to state that the lack of a more sensitive urban planning, concomitant with the inadequate implementation of the BRT, caused profound changes in the urban landscape of the affected neighborhoods and, therefore, in the perception and relationships of the region s residents with their immediate surroundings.