Browsing by Author "Nurmi, Timo"

The Helsinki region is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Europe. The growing population and urban sprawl are threatening to increase private car use and its negative effects. Because of that, transit usage needs to be increased. To encourage transit use land use should be located next to efficient transit like the metro. The aim of this study is to find out what the land use is like in East Helsinki metro station areas using the theory of transit-oriented development, which is all about this mixing of land use and transit. Transit-oriented development's focus is creating dense mixed use communities centered around transit stations. My research questions for the study are: Do East Helsinki metro station areas meet the criteria of transit-oriented development? Which criteria each station area meets and doesn't meet? What factors explain meeting the criteria or failing to meet them? Using four different GIS analysis I examined four important factors for diverse city environment: walkability, mixed use, varying aged buildings and land use density. I also examined the quality of the Vuosaari and Herttoniemi metro station areas using 3D satellite imaging and by making observations on the spot. The Vuosaari metro station area is the only one that can be viewed as meeting the criteria for transit-oriented development. Some station areas don't meet the criteria at all: Siilitie metro station area can be viewed as the exact opposite of transit-oriented development. In many station areas especially freeway-style roads and old suburban apartment buildings had a negative effect on the quality of public environments, land use density and street coverage.