Lecture | Digital Archaeology Group Meeting
Applying space syntax to insula V ii in Ostia
- Alexander Jansen
- Date
- Thursday 13 September 2018
- Time
- Location
-
Van Steenis
Einsteinweg 2
2333 CC Leiden - Room
- E0.03A
Evaluating and comparing four space syntax methods
Over the past decades, space syntax has already proven to be of added value for archaeological research in urban contexts. However, for any researcher unfamiliar with space syntax, a considerable investment in time and effort is required before one can apply these methods on his own dataset. One has to understand a complex and broad theoretical framework, and to overcome methodological problems. This can function as a barrier, preventing researchers from using these tools. This study hopes to assist those who are considering these methods, with selecting the space syntax methods that are the most suitable for analysing spatial changes in their urban dataset.
The results of four space syntax methods, access analysis, isovist analysis, visibility graph analysis, and agent analysis, are discussed and compared with each other. City block V ii in Ostia, Italy, is used as a case study to analyse changes in the layout of fourteen buildings between the Severan period (c. 200 AD) and the fall of the Roman Empire.