Station biophilia - assessing the perception of greenery on railway platforms using a digital twin

• Published in: Building research and information : the international journal of research, development and demonstration Vol. 52; no. 1-2; pp. 164 - 180
• Main Authors: Kalla, Matthias, Kalaycioglu, Oya, Hecht, Robert, Schneider, Sven, Schmidt, Catrin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Routledge 17.02.2024; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Biophilia; Biophilic design; Computer applications; Digital twins; Ecosystem services; gender issues; Noise reduction; Perception; Public health; Railway stations; Statistical analysis; Transport; Urban areas; Virtual reality
• ISSN: 0961-3218; 1466-4321
• DOI: 10.1080/09613218.2023.2219792

The increasing density of urban spaces and buildings is undermining public health. To compensate, there is a growing trend towards biophilic design, including at one of the most frequented and highly functional sites: railway stations. Previous studies have confirmed the economic feasibility of station greenery and users' preference for this but also their reluctance to pay for greenery compared to other services. One research gap is the lack of consideration given to the full range and dose-response correlation of urban cultural ecosystem services provided by station greenery. To fill this gap, we present the development and implementation of a method using static 2D representations of virtual reality scenes generated from a digital twin. In a between-subjects experiment (N = 352), participants were randomly assigned to assess one of three levels of greenery by means of a six-item semantic differential. Supported by statistically significant differences between groups, we could identify improvements in well-being, aesthetics, stress reduction, perception of safety, psychological noise reduction and identity. Further, women were found to prefer higher levels of greenery than men. Based on our results, we recommend applying the method to evaluate planning options and that (more) greenery be introduced at metropolitan stations as part of biophilic design.