Abstract:
Communities surrounding an educational institution normally have space use patterns which include a juxtaposition of complementary and dependent activities related to both the communities and the institution. This phenomenon emerges in building and land use patterns, varied moving as well as static activity patterns changing by time periods and types of space users who can be members of the communities, the institution and etc. These space use patterns can be either complementary or contradictory depending on the balance of physical and socio-economic relationships of the communities and the institution itself. This study aims to establish an objective representation of space use patterns, both moving and static activities, of the communities surrounding King Mongkut Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang (KMITL) in different time periods. This is carried out along with the analysis of physical and socio-economic characteristics in order to establish a preliminary community planning policy that serves the potentials and solves the problems related to the recorded space use patterns. From the literature review, the empirical study procedures are set to systematically record the space use patterns in the study area. The results reveal that building and land use patterns have been very much affected from the institution. The effects include the increasing of residential and commercial areas serving its students and personnels and the conglomeration of varied types of space user, especially pedestrians, in varied types of activity. These include static activity, movement trace patterns which can be dramatically different during the term and the off-term time periods especially in the areas involving with students' activities. However, such change is not applied to the areas serving community activities. Moreover, it is found that the physical conditions of pedestrian paths and visual field are also crucial factors that determine space use patterns in the area. The development and planning policy of communities surrounding KMITL to suit both the potentials and problems can be done through the change and adjustment of land and building uses to correlate with the pedestrian's potential locations. This means retail/commercial uses and be developed at the pedestrian 'hotspots' while the residential use, in the 'quieter' areas. The promotion of pedestrian environment in the area should be supported by improving the physical condition of pedestrian pathways and public open spaces along the routes in order to create a safer area that could well compliment the socio-economic activities. This is to enhance a vibrant and lively environment shared by people form both within and without KMITL itself.