The distribution of signs and pedestrians' walking behaviors in underground space--a case study of the underground shopping center in Taegon, Korea.

The objective of this research was to investigate how the pedestrians use the information in underground space. Furthermore, it is to determine the conditions under which pedestrians utilized signs. Therefore, the pedestrian walking behavior was investigated in an underground shopping center in Taegon City, South Korea. First, the routes taken by the pedestrians was observed; and secondly, the signs observed were categorized as follows, pedestrian movement patterns, conditions under which signs were utilized, the location of signs, the relationship between different spaces, the heights of the signs, and the types of information communicated by the signs. From our analysis of pedestrian walking behavior at the Taegon underground shopping center, it was found that it is necessary to adjust the content and placement of information signs for pedestrian use, because the content of the guidance information and the use of this information vary from place to place. As shown by our subjects' walking behavior, a good connection between information signs is necessary to provide good directional information to pedestrians.