Preliminary Exploration of the Quantitative Evaluation Method for the Utilization Efficiency of Space in the Community Commercial Centre:Three Cases

ZHANG Xiaoke; ZHU Xiaolei; JIN Shuqi

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-0232.2024.12.004

Abstract：Community commercial centers face challenges,including insufficient attraction,suboptimal consumer experiences,and low operational efficiency.It is urgent to develop methods to improve community commercial center utilization efficiency and establish scientific evaluation methods to recognize key factors that influence the use performances of commercial space on a micro scale.No consensus on the methodology for measuring space utilization efficiency has yet been reached.This study proposes the idea of making an efficient,comprehensive evaluation of space in the community commercial center based on multidimensional,subjective and objective influencing factors.The distribution of human flow and subjective satisfaction is used to characterize utilization efficiency.Four types of subjective and objective indicators were built for the quantitative analysis:overall spatial characteristics,local spatial characteristics,business functions,and subjective satisfaction.The walking accessibility and sight models were developed using the horizon analysis method of spatial syntax analysis.The walking accessibility(K)and visual accessibility(V)of observation points in the overall and hierarchical space were measured by"integrity".For local spatial characteristics,some indicators of observation points,such as entrance depth(E),vertical traffic(T),atrium space(A),rest space(B),and floor level(L)were quantified by computation and assignment methods.For business function indicators,the functional business differences among observation points were quantified through two descriptive indicators of number of stores(Q)and store area(S),as well as two comprehensive indicators,namely business format clustering(J)and functional influence(F).An empirical study was carried out based on three typical cases in Guangzhou.Based on a survey of use satisfaction and human flow distribution,the relationship between use efficiency and multidimensional influencing factors was investigated,and the action mechanism was interpreted through correlation analysis and regression analysis.The research contents include(1)calculating the correlation coefficient to analyze influences of space and function elements on human flow intensity.Objective indicators closely related to increasing human flows and their importance order are determined through the multiple linear regression analysis.(2)Potential structures of subjective variables are extracted by factor analysis,and a subjective evaluation model that reflects the feelings of customers is built.(3)Subjective and objective factors are proved mutually through a correlation analysis,thus verifying the measurement potentials of objective indicators. The study finds that(1)the distribution of human flow in community commercial spaces is significantly correlated with overall spatial characteristics(K and V),floor level(L),and entrance/exit depth(E).Specifically,the single-atrium pattern is closely related to visual accessibility(V),whereas the multi-atrium linear pattern shown is closely related to walking accessibility(K),highlighting the critical value of spatial integration in predicting human flow distribution in the space.(2)The functional space support,spatial convenience and recognition,and leisure and traffic node quality combine to form the subjective evaluation model.Among them,functional space support is the most important for subjective evaluation results.(3)There is a significant difference in the importance between subjective and objective evaluation factors:human flow is mainly influenced by spatial factors,followed by functional business factors.Human flow is closely related to the number of stores(Qa)and total stores(Q).Functional business factors mainly influence satisfaction,and nonconsumption functional space has a positive significance for quality improvement. Research results provide some basic references for recognition and optimal application of factors influencing the utilization efficiency of community commercial space.