Research Progress and Application of Eye-tracking Technology in Built Environment

ZHU Dingxiao; LU Baichuan; ZHANG Wei; SHI Yixiong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-0232.2025.06.004

Abstract：Objective:As a key tool to analyze human visual behavior and cognitive mechanisms,eye-tracking technology has been increasingly applied to study built environments in recent years.However,there are insufficient systematic reviews and standardized experimental protocols.Existing studies predominantly focus on single-scenario analyses or isolated technical dimensions,lacking integrative exploration of cross-domain applicability,multimodal integration potential,and methodological heterogeneity.This study aims to disclose the evolutionary pathways of eye-tracking technology in the field of built environment,core research themes,and methodological frameworks through a literature review at home and abroad in the recent two decades.It elucidates domain-specific applications and challenges across sub-fields(e.g.,architectural heritage conservation and urban design).It proposes innovative directions for technical refinement and interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance the objectivity of studies on environmental behaviors and lay the foundations for guidance in practical projects. Method:Relevant studies from 2005 to 2024 were searched systematically from China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)and Web of Science Core Collection.A visual analysis of keyword clusters and temporal trends was conducted using Cite Space knowledge mapping tools.The key research themes-such as visual preference,behavioral decision-making,and spatial perception-were identified.Finally,217 studies were included after strict screening.Experimental designs,indicator selection,and device applicability were summarized systematically by combining them with a visual perception framework.Some typical cases,including architectural heritage preservation and urban public space evaluation,were chosen for a comparative analysis of differences in experimental process and multimodal data integration strategies under different scenes,aiming to disclose internal application logic and innovation pathways of the eye-tracking technology. Conclusions:Research hotspots and experimental methods of eye-tracking technology in the field of built environments show significant systematic characteristics.The experimental process consists of theoretical framework establishment,variable control,device selection,data acquisition,and analysis methods.With respect to experimental design,static image media are mainly applied to studies on visual preference and emotional experience.Dynamic scenes are most applied to behavioral decision-making and cognition process analysis.For indicator selection,gaze-based indicators dominate visual attention research,whereas pupil-based indicators are mainly applied to analyze emotional arousal.Indicators of twitching of the eyelid and scanning path emphasize the analysis of cognitive strategies.It has become increasingly popular to integrate multimodal data,and research on complicated environments is combined with EEG,ECG or environmental sensor data to reveal the psychological significance limitation of a single indicator.Research hotspots concentrate on four major directions:namely,building space perception and behavior pattern,urban public space experience and evaluation,attention recovery and emotional experience,and multidimensional perceptual interaction. Eye-tracking technology provides high-precision behavior and cognitive analytic tools to study built environments.However,its deep applications have to break the limitations of technological isolation and theoretical separation.Key attention should be paid to the innovation of three aspects in future:(1)strengthening the integration of multiple technologies,such as combining VR to optimize immersive experiences and using AI deep learning to establish dynamic design response mechanisms;(2)expanding research on multimodal perceptual interaction by integrating sensory data such as soundscapes and tactile feedback to enhance the integrity of environmental experiences;and(3)deepening interdisciplinary collaboration by embedding psychological and neuroscientific theories into experimental designs to analyze the multidimensional driving mechanisms of environmental behavior.This study demonstrates that research can focus on the optimization of eye-tracking interaction mechanisms,high-risk scene cognition modeling,and dynamic protection strategies of historical cultural spaces to facilitate research paradigm shifts from"data-driven"to"design-empowered",finally facilitating practices of the smart human-oriented built environment.