Michael+Dibblee's+Understanding+Phase

Area of Interest: //Navigation in Toronto's Underground PATH System//
Ever since taking YSDN 1110 Communications in the Urban Environment, I have been interested in the idea of urban wayfinding. I remember discussing topics about Toronto's PATH system and being intrigued by the idea of designing a complex underground walkway underneath a city. It is in this interest that I have chosen my research topic.

Research Statement
From my own personal experience and frustration with getting lost in the maze that is Toronto's PATH System, I with to investigate navigation and wayfinding methods to improve this system for people who are not everyday users of this system.

Critical Position
As someone who frequents the downtown area especially during the school year when weather conditions are not always ideal for walking outside, I sometimes turn to the underground PATH system. This system of underground tunnels acts as a weatherproof maze that connects many of the business, entertainment and shopping services. When I say that it acts as a maze, I truly mean that. I have, on several occasions gotten quite lost in these walkways and have had to ask for direction or even resort to going up to the surface to orient myself. Although the Path system has made use of signage and wayfinding techniques, as a pedestrian who has traveled this system, I feel that they are not sufficient and designed in a user friendly way. I want to investigate ways to improve this system to be more user friendly for people who may not use it everyday and be acquainted with navigating the walkways

Data Collection
For my data collection I took it upon myself to navigate the PATH system. Inspired by the Toronto Star article [|"A 3 1/2 Hour Journey"], I gave myself with a list of major locations to find along the PATH System, and tried my best to find my way only using the signage. My location list consisted of the following: My notes from this trip can be seen in this pdf. Also my photos can be seen here and on [|flickr]. media type="flickr" key="13696593@N03" ARG0="&lang=en-us&format=rss_200" width="458" height="458"
 * Metro Toronto Convention Centre (North and South Building)
 * BCE Place
 * Toronto Dominion Centre
 * Design Exchange (for fun)
 * First Canadian Place
 * Commerce Court
 * The Lanes (Richmond Adelaide Centre)
 * City Hall
 * The Bay
 * Eaton Centre
 * Atrium on Bay
 * Toronto Coach terminal
 * CBC Building
 * MetroCentre
 * Simcoe Place
 * Five connected subway stations: Union, King, Queen, Dundas and St. Andrew

Possible Ideas for Improvement

 * A system that can tell the user the most efficient route between two locations.
 * A interactive directory of the various services along the walkways of path.
 * Historical informaiton about the buildings and attractions that one passes through along the walkways

PATH: A Visual Essay
media type="custom" key="216627"

Resources

 * [|City of Toronto Website on PATH]
 * [|PATH System Brochure PDF]
 * [|TorontoPATH] (useful but messy layout, I think I will base most of my research on improving this sort of idea)
 * [|"A PATH Through the Maze"], Toronto Star Article
 * [|"A 3 1/2 Hour Journey"], Toronto Star Article
 * [|"Toronto's own Underground PATH to Success"], canada.com Article
 * [|"Confusion Underground"], spacing article