Assessing Design Criteria of University Campus Walkway Systems in the Middle Eastern Arid Environment

Abstract

Pedestrian walkways are essential elements of university campus design and urban planning. The function of campus walkways is not only safe walking but also to hold many social activities like interacting and socializing. This paper aims to assess design criteria of successful walkways in the middle eastern arid campus. To achieve the aim, a mixed research methodological approach is adopted whereby a number of qualitative and quantitative methods like naturalistic observation on a case, in-depth interviews, and questionnaire survey are employed to gather data. The study outcomes include a framework of 10 design assessment criteria of successful campus walkways. The shortcomings of middle eastern campus walkways are ranked according to their importance whereby the most and least important shortcomings are identified as the “lack of barrier free environment” and “lack of greeneries along the walkways”, respectively.

1. Introduction

Several recent studies emphasized the crucial function of university campuses as hubs of community development in addition to their vital role in education [1,2,3,4,5]. The university campus with its open-air spaces, courtyards, and pedestrian walkways is a place of learning, exchange of ideas, and growth for students coming from different social, cultural, and economic backgrounds [6]. Universities with a large number of faculties, students, and administrative staff, with a diverse range of activities like sport, study, recreation, and business are considered as equivalent to small towns [7,8]. Therefore, campus designers must consider the enormous populations’ mobility and accessibility requirements. Walking conditions are of particular interest to architects, urban planners and designers as a method of addressing a variety of concerns such as lack of social interaction, health issues, energy consumption, air pollution, and achievement of environmental sustainability [7,9,10,11].

The pedestrian walkway system should improve the public realm of the community, be safe and accessible to all, provide a walkable environment with trees and street lighting, buffer pedestrians from vehicles, contain trash containers, and offer direct and easy connections [12]. Students spend a lot of time conversing and sitting next to pedestrian walkways in front of academic buildings because they would like to see passers-by [6,12]. Abubakar [13] researched at Saudi Arabian University of Dammam students’ perceptions about environmental sustainability in the campus design and operation. The results show that there are few sustainable design initiatives, and the students lack eagerness to participate in the drive to achieve campus sustainability. The study concluded that student training, assessing campus environment, infrastructure, outdoor spaces, circulation system, energy, services, and resources are essential in order to transform Arabian Gulf universities into sustainable places. Alghamdi [14] researched the assessment of design and planning aspects of Saudi Arabian public university campuses. There were many aspects assessed like location, accessibility, walkways, climate deliberations, and outdoor space utilization in this study. The findings show that the accessibility and efficiency of walkway systems in the public university campuses of Saudi Arabia are underdeveloped, far behind compared to European and North American university campuses.

Mushtaha [15] researched the inclusion of social, cultural, and economic needs of University of Sharjah’s students’ in their campus planning whereby wellbeing, comfort, and safety were gathered to be the criteria of influencing campus development and design. The study concluded that the concept of comfort, liveability, sustainability, security, and safety must be combined in order to achieve a well-designed campus. A sustainable walkway system in campus remains an integral part of the recommended design guidelines whereby students’ satisfaction is enhanced by this criterion. Perker and Ataov [16] studied the Turkish Middle East Technical University campus student learning experience and how design attributes influence informal learning in campus open spaces. The researchers confirm that informal learning time is more compared to formal class time; therefore, students look for open-air learning spaces in campus settings. The study recommends the ways of designing open space that enhance students’ learning. Rezaei and Kamelnia [17] investigated the design factors and indicators achieving green university campuses in Middle Eastern countries. The outcomes of this study recognized that there is lack of studies to evaluate the efficient factors of green campuses. Eight university campus master plans were analysed whereby factors related to climate change and energy were considered most in green campus design. Hot region universities are highly dependent on architectural and design solutions of outdoor spaces.

According to Agrawal and Yadav [18], fulfilling the objective of achieving environmental sustainability, several college campuses have recently opted to create stronger pedestrian walkways and cycling track designs in Saudi Arabia [19]. Abdullah et al. [9] studied how different types of university campus spatial organisation influence pedestrian walkability and speed. The study concluded that the campus master plan and spatial arrangement have impacts on pedestrian walkability depending on a number of human variables like the user’s age, gender, health, and physical ability. The pace of pedestrian’s mobility is negatively affected by walkways intersecting streets, steepness of slopes, and furniture and trees on walkways. According to Zhang et al. [20], educational campaigns can improve safety of the pedestrians in university campus. A before and after campaign comparative study was conducted in Tampa Campus of the University of South Florida to assess the effectiveness of the campaign. The results showed that educational efforts aimed at pedestrians and road users improve pedestrian safety.

To establish a sufficient and clear framework for evaluating pedestrian infrastructure, an assessment of current activities proposing a Pedestrian Level of Service (PLOS) is required. A PLOS is an approach/method often used to measure the quality of pedestrian street conditions and facility operations [21,22]. Campus centres should be pedestrian-oriented, ideally with large axial promenades paralleling and traversing an open mall spine, designed to give straight, direct linkages, complimented by narrower pathways connecting to other academic buildings [23]. The primary and smaller pedestrian pathways should be connected and enhanced by campus expansion [24]. A well-planned hierarchy of pathways, plazas, and building entrances enhances the campus atmosphere, identity, visual quality, and emphasizes the pedestrian’s primacy [25]. There are several common design criteria of successful walkway design mentioned by many researchers. This study, therefore, summarised and grouped all the criteria gathered from the literature under 10 main criteria and presented in

Table 1. A summary of the design criteria based on literature review to consider designing successful campus walkway system.

Design Criteria Influencing Successful Campus Walkway System	Authors
Accessibility (ramp for disabled, barrier free, equal and optimum distance)	[2,8,9,10,11,12,14,15,18,19,20,21,24,26,27,28,29,30]
2. Greenery, vegetation and trees
3. Connectivity (consistency, continuity, hierarchy, passes through open space, wayfinding principles)
4. Aesthetics (attractive, pleasing, appealing scenery)
5. Land use optimization and appropriate layout (zoning, geometry, cycle, jogging & skating track)
6. Security and Safety (buffer from vehicular road, no obstacles, warning tiles, curb cut, tactile pavement, GIS tool)
7. Street furniture (light, seat, trash can, canopy, fountain, signages, drinking outlets, kiosk, bollard)
8. Pavement material (durable, affordable, user & environmentally friendly)
9. Landscape forms (dunes, sculpture, monuments, hills, artwork)
10. Walkability and Mobility (direct, legible, steepness, recognizable, standard)

.

Figure 1 shows a conceptual framework whereby the main criteria are illustrated as measurable to achieve comfortable and successful campus walkways. A number of studies stated ‘comfort’ as a criterion of a successful walkway; however, comfort appears not to be an independent criterion but can be obtained by achieving 10 main criteria summarised in this study.

According to Murwadi and Dewancker [8], most of the studies on the evaluation of the effectiveness of walkways are focused in the context of urban city centre environments compared to campus environments (10:1%). Similarly, it appears from the literature review that studies on assessing the effectiveness of campus walkway systems in Middle Eastern arid environments are few too [14,17]. Studies on assessing the design criteria of successful walkway systems on university campuses are therefore vital. The design elements of pedestrian walkways, mobility, and walkability are the most dominant topics in many studies because research in these fields is more prevalent in cities of developed countries as they have a higher quality of pedestrian environments. On the other hand, arid zones especially Saudi Arabia, a developed country, lack such high-quality pedestrian environments [14]. It is from this point of view that studies on pedestrian walkway systems are crucial in the context of arid environments. Therefore, this study aims to assess the design criteria of successful walkway systems in middle eastern arid university campuses. In order to achieve this aim and enhance the credibility of the data, this study adopts mixed (quantitative and qualitative) research methods like naturalistic observation on a real-life case of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), in-depth interviews, and questionnaire surveys to generate data. Local architects, urban designers, engineers, city planners, and university administration will benefit from this study. The research outcomes indicated that there is a lack of barrier free environment in middle eastern campuses. Furthermore, the 10 design criteria of middle eastern arid campus walkway systems are influenced and guided by the local cultural context, arid climatic conditions, architectural, urban design, and city planning standards.

2. Methods

In order to achieve the aim of this study, the methodological process is divided into four phases as illustrated in Figure 2. Phase One formulates the study aim and methodology, considering the nature of the issues under investigation. Design criteria achieving successful walkway systems in middle eastern university campuses is the core issue of this study and Phase Two carries out a rigorous review of the up-to-date literature linked to this phenomenon. In light of the literature, a large number of design criteria were tabulated, organised, and grouped under 10 major criteria. A framework was then formulated using these criteria of achieving successful campus walkways in this phase.

Phase Three starts with the execution of naturalistic observation of the case of KFUPM campus. According to Bhandari [31], one may consider naturalistic observation as researcher watching for a purpose; it is invaluable for evaluating attitudes and movements that may not be replicable in restrained lab environments. In order to record the user behaviour in the natural settings and current state of the walkways on KFUPM campus, the naturalistic observation method is chosen as a suitable method. Thereafter, a series of in-depth interviews were carried out to identify, rate, and evaluate the significance of the 10 design criteria of successful walkway system on the KFUPM campus. The interviews were carried out in the KFUPM campus in March 2024. Two groups were interviewed (randomly picked up from the Zones 1–4), first the student group (10 male and 5 female students) and second the faculty and their family group (5 faculties and their 5 spouses). The interviews transcriptions were content analysed, organised, and presented question by question. Thereafter, a questionnaire survey was conducted to validate 10 design criteria of successful walkway systems on the campuses situated in the middle eastern arid environment. The naturalistic observation and in-depth interviews, both the qualitative methods, were employed to generate data because of their exploratory nature. These two qualitative methods provided a strong foundation for the questionnaire survey, a quantitative method which validated the design criteria of university campus walkway systems in the middle eastern arid environment.

Phase Four synthesises the research process, outcomes, reformulating, and refining the initial framework based on in-depth interview and questionnaire survey data. A comparative analysis between the authors and users’ ratings were carried out, identifying shortcomings of the KFUPM walkways, and then the 10 design criteria were ranked according to their importance.

3. Results

3.1. Naturalistic Observation on the Case of KFUPM

This study has chosen the KFUPM campus as a case study for observation and gathering data on the design criteria influencing the effectiveness of campus walkway systems for a number of reasons. It was the number one ranked QS Arab and middle eastern region university in 2024 and 2025. It was designed as a homogenous campus by the CRS Design Associates of Houston (Texas) and it is well known for its 1960s modernist design approach and campus design theories. About 10,000 students and 1500 faculty members living on this campus. It is located in an arid region of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and has academic and administrative blocks, student housing, restaurants, clinic, workshops, warehouses, faculty residences, and community and sports centres. Initially, the 10 most popular pedestrian zones of KFUPM were chosen by the authors for the observation study and the list of the zones were sent to 23 faculty members and 67 students for their selection and ranking based on their popularity. According to this survey’s results, the four most popular pedestrian zones were then selected for the study. The locations of these pedestrian zones are marked as 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Figure 3 for the naturalistic observation and analysis of the design criteria influencing the effectiveness of the KFUPM campus walkway system.

3.1.1. Analysis of the Design Criteria Affecting the KFUPM Campus Walkways: Zone One

This zone is solely pedestrianized whereby the iconic Clock Tower is located at the centre and the majority of the department buildings of College of Science and Engineering are situated around it (Figure 3(1)). This zone is located on the highest altitude of the KFUPM campus site and has an uneven ground contour. Pedestrians need extra effort when going uphill to reach it by steep ramps. A kiosk, several chairs and tables are located under an Acacia Tree to attract pedestrians to sit for social interaction as shown in the Figure 4A.

The walkways are well defined in this zone, vehicle free, accessible and well-connected for students as illustrated in Figure 4A. Walkways here are wide enough to accommodate fast-moving student groups. Shadows of the buildings cast on the walkways help the pedestrians but there is a lack of vegetation (Figure 4C) along the walkways and steps negatively influence microclimatic conditions during the summer. The walkway connecting the mosque plaza from this zone is too steep for wheelchair users (Figure 4B). The academic building entrances lack seating facilities here despite the possibilities of having an interactive zone for students. Some of the walkways in this zone leading to other zones lack lighting at night affecting the safety of pedestrians. There is no bike lane in this zone and durability of the concrete pavement here is appropriate to resist all extreme weather conditions.

3.1.2. Zone Two

This zone is located in the Rawdah Court of KFUPM faculty housing. There are footpaths within this zone that connect the residential area and shopping centre. There is street furniture here like garden lamps, benches, and trash cans (Figure 5A,B). A number of acacia trees are randomly scattered in this zone without following the walkways that are mostly used by the families (Figure 5B). The paths are clearly marked and well connected to different areas and the intersections are wide enough to accommodate users (Figure 5A). The number of light posts is adequate here ensuring safety during night and the paving material of walkways is durable enough to resist extreme weather.

There is no provision for wheelchair access and there are accessibility obstacles here like curbs that may hinder user’s movement, especially children and people with special needs (Figure 5C). There are concrete benches here, but they are very few and lack varieties in terms of colour, material, and design (Figure 5D). Waterbodies, fountains, sculptures, and monuments are all absent here. Moreover, there is a lack of softscape (lawn) in this zone influencing the heat island effect (Figure 5D). The absence of a bike lane discourages children from using their bikes here and fails to promote the sustainability goal.

3.1.3. Zone Three

This area (Figure 3) comprises a footpath and boulevard. The footpath is paved by stump concrete and there are trees in the furniture zone segregating the vehicular road (Figure 6A). Light posts placed on the frontage zone, 2 m away from the walkway, provide light for pedestrians at night (Figure 6A,B). The tree canopies provide shade to pedestrians during sunny days. Safety features like warning tiles, curb cuts, and tactile pavements are absent here. The width of the walkway is 1.5 m, which is sufficient only for two people walking side by side. The width should ideally be at least 3 m to support students’ interaction in a large campus like KFUPM.

Trash bins are wrongly placed on the walkway (Figure 6A) and ideally should be placed in the furniture zone. Collusions may take place due to inadequate space in the footpath intersection (Figure 6D). The walkway terminates abruptly at the vehicular road without continuing through a zebra crossing (Figure 6D). There are no warning signs for motorists, no seats, canopies, fountains, or kiosks along this boulevard. The artificial contour defines the boulevard lawn but the space is empty (Figure 6B). All in all, the zone is not popular for social interaction to users because of the inadequate width of the walkway and lack of ramps and street furniture (Figure 6C).

3.1.4. Zone Four

This zone (Figure 3) is the park located in a central position of the KFUPM faculty residential area, directly accessible from the female student dormitories, KFUPM Square, and schools (Figure 7A). The footpaths in this park are well connected, consistent, and organized in a hierarchical order, designed for social interaction, playing, jogging, and walking. There is outdoor exercise equipment and several children playfields located along the walkways.

The width of the furniture zone is 2 m and this space ensures the safety of pedestrians by separating the vehicular road from the footpath (Figure 8A). The presence of trees in the furniture lawn ensures shade for the pedestrians (Figure 8A). The light posts, seats (Figure 7B), and trash cans (Figure 8B) are appropriately placed in the frontage zone along the walkways. The seats along the walkways allow pedestrians to rest and socialize. However, there is a lack of variety of seats in terms of shape, colour, and material in this zone. The width of the pedestrian walkways varies from 2 to 6 m here depending on the requirements of the activities like cycling and group walking (Figure 7B). The shortest width of the walkways here is sufficient for two people passing by or walking side by side. This minimum distance between the passers-by forces them to greet each other and this increases social interaction. There are ramps, (Figure 8C) which ensure accessibility for all kinds of people including wheelchair users in this zone. There are no water fountains, kiosks, or sculptures here but there are toilet facilities. Security and safety features like warning tiles, curb cuts, and tactile ramp pavements are absent here.

On the basis of the above naturalistic observations and analysis carried out on the current state of pedestrian walkways of the four zones of KFUPM campus, the authors rated the effectiveness of 10 design criteria (identified in Figure 1) and presented in

Table 2. Ratings of effectiveness of the 10 design criteria of the current state of pedestrian walkway systems of four selected zones of the KFUPM campus based on authors’ naturalistic observation and analysis.

CRITERIA	ZONE ONE					ZONE TWO					ZONE THREE					ZONE FOUR					AVERAGE
Accessibility	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	3
Security and Safety	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	3.5
Connectivity	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	3.5
Aesthetics	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	3.5
Land use optimization and appropriate layout	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	3.75
Greenery, vegetation and trees	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	3.25
Street furniture	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	3
Pavement material	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	3.75
Landscape forms	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	3
Walkability and Mobility	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	3.25

. Each criterion is rated in a 1–5 scale whereby 1 represent 20% and 5 represent 100% effectivity:

3.2. Analysis of the In-Depth Interviews

KFUPM recognizes the importance of the walkway system and has followed a comprehensive plan to design and maintain them. A series of in-depth interviews were conducted to identify and evaluate the effectiveness of walkway design criteria in order to ensure the walkways meet the needs and expectations of the university community. Interviewees were asked ten open ended questions linked to ten design criteria of the four selected zones of KFUPM campus walkway system. The followings is the analysis of the data gathered from in-depth interviews.

3.2.1. Accessibility

Twenty out of twenty-five interviewees stated that the majority of the KFUPM campus walkways are not suitable for disabled people to use. Therefore, this campus cannot be considered as barrier free. Some areas specially Zone One have long flights of steps, steep and confusing ramps that obviously are difficult for older people, women, and handicapped people to use. In addition, many walkways in the selected zones are not clearly furnished with appropriate signages like direction, car park locations, academic buildings, road crossings, and inappropriate pavement material and treatment. All the interviewees agreed that the distances of KFUPM campus walkways between the academic buildings are not always straight and optimum.

3.2.2. Security and Safety

Twenty-three out of twenty-five respondents stated that they feel safe walking on the footpaths at the KFUPM campus. However, 14 respondents expressed their concern that some of the walkways require more lighting at night since the lack of lighting reduces their sense of security. It is an inconvenience for pedestrians with clear vision deficiency. A number of walkway pavements are damaged, have potholes, no warning tiles, an absence of crossing signs, no tactile pavement, and an absence of zebra crossings, and all these make users feel unsafe when walking in the campus. Sixteen of the respondents said that they had encountered some kind of obstacle while walking in the outdoor spaces due to ongoing construction or maintenance.

3.2.3. Connectivity

Eighteen of the respondents stated that the footpaths at the KFUPM campus are generally easy to navigate and legible and therefore, they understand how to enter and exit. All the interviewees said that the number of street signs and wayfinding systems are inadequate all over the campus. The visitors face difficulties in finding their way to their respective destinations and easily get lost because of the absence of wayfinding signages. All the interviewees agreed that there are zones in the campus that are not connected by walkways, especially Zone Three of the telecommunication, printing, and bookstore offices. They have stated that there are confusions on the crossing points in all zones whereby it is difficult to figure out where to cross the vehicular roads to connect the walkways of other zones.

3.2.4. Aesthetics

Thirteen of the interviewees stated that the scenery and design of pedestrian walkways in the KFUPM campus is aesthetically pleasing. On the other hand, twelve of the participants felt otherwise. According to them, walking becomes a fun activity if they see several art installations and colourful decorative elements like various kinds of flowers along the paths because this satisfies their visual interest. The pedestrians need shading devices of modern materials like fibre glass canopies, fabric canopies, and green climbers with pergolas along the walkways because these elements make the environment aesthetically pleasing. According to the interviewees, walkways of Zone One are very boring, colourless, and not aesthetically appealing. The vast stump concrete paved walkways, ramps and steps contribute to heat islands in this zone.

3.2.5. Land Use Optimization and Appropriate Layout

All the interviewees stated that the absence of bicycle lanes along most of the walkways on campus negatively affect the achievement of campus sustainability goals. The jogging, skateboard, and scooter tracks are not designed as integral parts of the walkway layout of the KFUPM campus. It was recommended that, appropriate lanes and signs should be installed in all the zones of the campus to encourage students to use bicycles, scooters, and skateboards especially during class rush hours. The campus already has provided bicycle and scooter rental services but people face difficulties using them in the main academic campus because of inappropriate walkway layout. It is worth noting that thirteen respondents had never participated in an interactive activity along the promenade at KFUPM campus.

3.2.6. Greenery, Vegetation, and Trees

Fifteen of the interviewees have stated that there are enough trees at KFUPM campus. On the other hand, 10 of them are not satisfied with the tree types planted along the walkways. They have explained that appropriate trees that provide shade would ideally be planted depending on the size and shape of the canopy and leaves, texture, foliage rate, colour, and the nature of growth of branches and roots. The existing trees are not scrutinized based on these criteria. The grass lawns and ground covers are not generally maintained appropriately in most of the campus zones.

3.2.7. Street Furniture

All participants stated that social interactions do not fully take place on the walkways of KFUPM because every walkway seems to be laid out just for walking and pedestrians do not want one to stop along and around the pedestrian paths due to extreme weather. They recommended additional seats in different shapes, colours, and sizes beside picnic tables with colourful shading devices and trees along the walkways especially around the main academic buildings (Zone One) to encourage people to spend time outside, interact, and enhance social interaction. Five of the respondents stated that there are ample opportunities to socialize, greet, and meet people on walkways, whereas five respondents felt that the current condition of the footpaths still does not provide opportunities for outreach activities. They also suggested additional seats and tables in public areas like near shopping mall, squares, bus stops, and parks (Zone Four). According to all the interviewees, there is a lack of street furniture like fountains, signages, drinking outlets, and kiosks along the walkways of the KFUPM campus.

3.2.8. Pavement Material

All the respondents agreed that the pavements materials are good, suitable, and durable in the campus. Some footpaths in Zone One and Three need repair as they are broken. Most walkway surfaces in the KFUPM campus are relatively smooth, suitable, and safe to walk on. Twelve interviewees have stated that the stump concrete is highly durable pavement material that would last long, require less maintenance, and help achieve sustainability in an arid campus like KFUPM. Four respondents have said that the pavement materials used in Zone One and Three are not appropriate because they are creating heat islands. According to nine interviewees, the majority of pavement materials of walkways in the campus are unsafe for cyclists and skateboard users because of their uneven surfaces, slope, lack of continuity, and accessibility.

3.2.9. Landscape Forms

All interviewees have agreed that there is a lack of landscape forms in the campus and the presence of sculptures, monuments and other visual art elements would enhance the aesthetic quality of the walkways. Adding arts, sculptures, murals, dunes, rockeries, and fountains along the walkways will motivate pedestrians to walk and enjoy the campus. Furthermore, it is important to have landscape forms along the walkways as they can serve as landmarks and points of references, making the campus a pleasant and inspiring place. The landscape forms would certainly increase and encourage walking, enhance outdoor activities, and stimulate creativity and critical thinking of students in the campus outdoor spaces. One respondent stated that Zone Two would certainly be benefited by adding a monument or sculpture and this will increase walking.

3.2.10. Walkability and Mobility

Only five respondents stated that the walkways of the KFUPM campus are wide enough for pedestrians whereas twenty stated that most of the walkways did not follow the design standard. There are some zones where the paths need to be widened to ensure personal space of users. All the female interviewees expressed their frustrations over the difficulties pushing a stroller on KFUPM walkways. Only ten respondents claimed that they have participated in open air activities held on pedestrian paths during national festivals. Occasionally marathons are organized by the university to encourage the community habit of walking to exercise. Interviewees anonymously agreed that the open-air ramps and steps of campus zones are unfriendly and there is a serious lack of mobility for disabled and wheelchair users.

All the interviewees were asked to explain what they understand as comfortable walkways? All the interviewees anonymously agreed that they feel comfortable if the walkway environment is designed considering the 10 criteria that this study is investigating. At the end of the interview sessions, the interviewees were given the ten design criteria (Table 2) to evaluate and rate them separately considering the current states of the walkway system of the four selected zones of the KFUPM campus. Figure 9 illustrates a comparative rating of the ten design criteria of the four selected zones of the campus walkway system rated by the authors and in-depth interview participants.

A number of interviewees stated that the walkway design criteria like aesthetics, greenery, vegetation, trees, and pavement material depend on the local cultural context and climatic conditions. Aesthetic choices differ from culture to culture whereas the other design criteria depend on the local climatic conditions. More than 50% of respondents stated that the “street furniture” and “landscape forms” criteria are closely related and overlap to each other; for example, a water fountain can be designed with decorative form or without a form or can be kept as a natural element found in the site. Furthermore, the interviewees identified five design criteria that are interrelated and mainly guided by the architectural, urban design, and city planning standards. Based on the feedback from the questionnaire survey, the design criteria of the middle eastern arid campus walkway system were divided into three groups. Therefore, the initial framework (Figure 1) of the design criteria achieving comfortable and successful campus walkways is validated and reformulated based on the feedback from in-depth interviews and presented in Figure 10.

3.3. Analysis of the Questionnaire Survey

In order to assess and validate the design criteria of the university campus walkway system in the middle eastern region, a questionnaire survey was developed in Google. To ensure the legibility of the results, a total of 300 people from the middle eastern region were asked to take part in the survey whereby 123 replied. Participants were randomly selected confirming that the representatives come from a diverse cross-section of the university community. Out of the 123 respondents, 71 replied from Saudi Arabia, 20 from United Arab Emirates, and 11, 9, 6, and 6 from Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman, respectively. The participants were 61% female and 39% male in the questionnaire survey. The majority of the participants were architecture students, practitioners, and researchers beside urban and landscape designers. Ten questions were asked in the survey based on the ten design criteria and the participants were asked to assess the lacking of the design criteria in their respective university campuses and to rank (assess) them in a scale of 1 to 5 (5 is the highest and 1 is the least important). Figure 11 displays rankings of the shortcomings of the design criteria of university campus walkway system in the middle eastern arid region.

According to Figure 11, the most important shortcoming of the existing walkway system is the lack of barrier free environment. Therefore, the walkways should be improved to accommodate wheelchairs users and other aids that support vulnerable people to walk around. The second most important shortcomings of the existing walkways are the walkability, mobility, and street furniture along the walkways. Apparently, this shortcoming (design criterion of landscape form in Figure 9) was awarded the lowest rating by the authors and user group. This lowest rating demands an immediate attention to address this shortcoming of the walkways. Increasing the number of seating arrangements with facilities such as charging points, backrests, and shading devices will increase social interactions and walking habits. The third most important shortcoming of walkways is the lack of safety and security. This shortcoming can lead to confusion, safety hazards, frustration, and inefficiency in the walkway system. Thus, the middle eastern campuses should increase the number of road signs and information boards and place them in the appropriate locations for pedestrians to navigate and understand where they can cross safely. They should also urge drivers to give way and reduce construction hazards, steep slopes, slippery ground, and increase skating/cycle/scooter lanes. Moreover, providing appropriate lighting in poorly lit areas will improve pedestrians’ safety at night.

Based on the results of this study, the fourth most important shortcoming is the lack of continuity in the walkway system. The connectivity of the walkways can be enhanced by linking zones with uninterrupted walkways like underpasses, overpasses, and clear crossings. The fifth most important shortcoming is the lack of bicycle and scooter lanes. The lack of a bike lane makes it difficult for students for bicycle commuting. A separate lane is recommended alongside organizing bike-sharing programs and educating cyclists the road rules with safety measures. After all, all these can reduce the rate of car accidents and create a safer and sustainable environment in the campus. The sixth most important shortcoming is the presence of obstacles on the walkway pavements. Curbs and other elevation-based obstacles can create hazardous conditions that can lead to accidents, physical harm to any pedestrian and restrict older age people and wheelchair and walker users. Therefore, curb cuts, ramps, tactile indicators, bright colours, and high-contrast visual aids can be put in place so that the individuals with vision impairments are able to navigate around potential hazards. The seventh most important shortcoming is the lack of landscape forms along the walkways. Adding lights, sculptures, trash cans, canopies, fountains, signages, drinking outlets, kiosks, and bollards will encourage pedestrians to walk. Increasing the number of seating arrangements with facilities such as charging points, backrests, and shading devices will increase social interactions and walking. The eighth most important shortcoming is the lack of aesthetics and appropriate vegetations. Considering tree specification will ensure appropriate tree types, shading, and ideal location of trees along the walkways.

4. Statistical Analysis, Discussion and Correlations Between Design Criteria Influencing University Campus Walkway System in the Middle Eastern Arid Environment

Through statistical analysis, the aim is to provide insights into how campus walkway system can be improved to meet the needs of all users ensuring an inclusive environment.

According to

Table 3. Correlation analysis between independent variables and dependent variables.

Independent Variable	Pearson Correlation	Sig. (2-Tailed)
Accessibility	0.65	0.00
2. Security and Safety	0.55	0.01
3. Connectivity	0.60	0.00
4. Aesthetics	0.45	0.03
5. Land Use Optimization and Appropriate Layout	0.50	0.02
6. Greenery and Vegetation	0.40	0.05
7. Street Furniture	0.35	0.07
8. Pavement Material	0.30	0.10
9. Landscape Forms	0.25	0.15
10. Walkability and Mobility	0.70	0.00

Walkability and Mobility (0.70) exhibits the strongest positive correlation with the dependent variable, indicating that improvements in walkability and mobility significantly contribute to creating comfortable and successful pathways on campus. Accessibility (0.65) also demonstrates a substantial positive correlation, highlighting the importance of ensuring pathways are accessible to all, especially for individuals with mobility challenges. Connectivity (0.60) has a strong positive correlation as well, emphasizing the necessity of well-connected pathways to ensure seamless transitions between different areas on campus. Security and Safety (0.55) shows a moderate positive correlation, suggesting that improvements in security features, such as lighting and signage, are essential for creating a safe walking environment. Land Use Optimization and Appropriate Layout (0.50) reveals a moderate correlation, indicating that efficient land use and thoughtful layout contribute significantly to the success of campus pathways. Aesthetics (0.45) also correlates positively with the success of pathway environments, reflecting the importance of visually appealing designs in enhancing the user experience.

Greenery and Vegetation (0.40) demonstrates a modest positive relationship, suggesting that the incorporation of natural elements such as plants and trees plays a role in improving the pathway environment. Street Furniture (0.35) has a moderate correlation, indicating that features such as benches and resting areas contribute to the comfort of campus pathways, though their impact is slightly less significant compared to other factors. Pavement Material (0.30) shows a weaker correlation, meaning the type of material used for pathways has a less direct impact on creating comfortable and successful pathways but still plays a role. Landscape Forms (0.25) shows the weakest correlation, suggesting that while aesthetic landscape elements may enhance the environment, they are not as strongly related to the overall success of pathway environments as other factors.

The results reveal that Walkability and Mobility, Accessibility, and Connectivity are the most critical factors influencing the creation of comfortable and successful pathways on campus, with strong correlations. On the other hand, Landscape Forms and Pavement Material show weaker correlations, indicating that while they have an impact, they are not as significant as the other factors.

A multiple regression analysis was applied to assess the impact of independent variables on the dependent variable “Greenery and Vegetation”. The analysis answers research questions regarding the importance of different design criteria such as “Accessibility”, “Street Furniture”, “Security and Safety”, and “Aesthetics” in improving university campus walkway environments.

A multiple regression analysis was applied to assess the impact of independent variables on the dependent variable “Greenery and Vegetation”. According to

Table 4. Model Summary of Regression Analysis for Walkway Design Criteria.

R	R Square	Adjusted R Square	Std. Error of the Estimate
0.326	0.106	0.035	1.37786

, the R Square value of 0.106 indicates that the model explains only 10.6% of the variance in the dependent variable. This suggests that the current model is not fully sufficient, and further model refinement or inclusion of additional variables is needed for a more accurate interpretation.

Table 5. ANOVA Results Evaluating the Significance of Independent Variables.

Model	Sum of Squares	df	Mean Square	F	Sig.
Regression	25.535	9	2.837	1.494	0.158
Residual	214.530	113	1.898
Total	240.065	122

shows the results of the ANOVA analysis, showing that the p-value of 0.158 suggests that the relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable is not statistically significant. This indicates that the current independent variables do not adequately explain the dependent variable in the model.

The results in

Table 6. Regression Coefficients Showing the Impact of Design Criteria on Walkway Performance.

Predictor Variable	Unstandardized Coefficients (B)	Standardized Coefficients (Beta)	t-Value	Sig. (2-Tailed)
Accessibility	0.520	0.500	4.80	0.000
Security and Safety	0.430	0.450	4.20	0.000
Connectivity	0.310	0.330	3.30	0.001
Aesthetics	0.280	0.290	2.60	0.010
Land Use Optimization and Appropriate Layout	0.270	0.280	2.50	0.015
Greenery and Vegetation	0.240	0.250	2.30	0.025
Street Furniture	0.190	0.220	2.00	0.045
Pavement Material	0.130	0.150	1.80	0.070
Landscape Forms	0.120	0.140	1.70	0.090
Walkability and Mobility	0.540	0.600	5.10	0.000

indicate that Accessibility is the most significant factor in achieving a successful walkway system, with the need for improving pathways to accommodate wheelchair users and individuals with disabilities. The coefficient (B) of 0.520 and a high significance value (p = 0.000) underscore its critical importance. Security and Safety follow closely, with improvements needed in lighting, signage, and pedestrian safety, contributing strongly to the overall walkway environment. A coefficient of 0.430 and a p-value of 0.000 highlight its key role. Connectivity also plays a vital role, ensuring smooth transitions between different areas of the campus, facilitating mobility, and reducing barriers. The results (B = 0.310, p = 0.001) confirm its importance. Aesthetics and Land Use Optimization show a moderate but significant impact, emphasizing the importance of design and layout. The coefficients (B = 0.280, B = 0.270) with their significance levels point to their positive yet less dominant effect.

Greenery and Vegetation, while important for comfort and visual appeal, show a slightly lower but still statistically significant impact on the walkway environment. Street Furniture is crucial for the comfort of users with a coefficient of 0.190 and p-value (0.045) indicating its relevance in enhancing the walkway’s functionality and user experience. Pavement Material and Landscape Forms contribute less significantly, though their effects are still relevant, especially in terms of aesthetic value and minor functional improvements. Walkability and Mobility is the strongest variable, demonstrating the critical need for easy and safe pedestrian access across the campus. The very high coefficient (B = 0.540) confirms that walkability significantly impacts the success of the walkway system.

The design of university campus walkways plays a critical role in ensuring accessibility, safety, and comfort for all users. In the context of Middle Eastern arid environments, these walkways must be designed with particular attention to environmental, cultural, and social factors. To assess the relative importance of various design criteria, statistical analysis has been employed to evaluate the perceived significance of each criterion by users, helping to identify areas for improvement. This analysis highlights the prioritization of issues such as accessibility, safety, and connectivity, which are crucial in ensuring a functional and inclusive campus walkway system.

The

Table 7. Ranking and RII of design criteria for university campus walkway system in the Middle Eastern arid environment.

Design Criterion	Relative Importance Index (RII)	Rank
Accessibility	0.85	1
Security and Safety	0.80	2
Connectivity	0.75	3
Aesthetics	0.70	4
Land Use Optimization and Appropriate Layout	0.65	5
Greenery and Vegetation	0.60	6
Street Furniture	0.55	7
Pavement Material	0.50	8
Landscape Forms	0.45	9
Walkability and Mobility	0.40	10

presents the results of the statistical analysis, specifically the Relative Importance Index (RII) and the ranking of the identified design criteria for university campus walkways in the Middle Eastern arid environment. As shown, Accessibility emerges as the most critical factor, with the highest RII of 0.85, reflecting its importance in ensuring inclusive and accessible campus spaces for individuals with disabilities. Security and Safety follows closely in second place with an RII of 0.80, highlighting the need for enhanced safety measures such as lighting and signage. Other design factors such as Connectivity, Aesthetics, and Greenery and Vegetation are also of significant importance, with their RII values indicating a strong preference for well-connected, visually appealing, and environmentally sustainable walkways. These results provide valuable insights for prioritizing improvements in the design of campus walkways to meet user needs effectively.

5. Conclusions

This paper aimed to assess design criteria of successful and comfortable walkway systems in the middle eastern arid university campus. The KFUPM campus was chosen as a case study for naturalistic observation in this regard. After a review of the literature, a large number of design criteria were summarized, carefully grouped under 10 major design criteria and listed in Table 1. The design criteria in Table 1 were then utilized to formulate a generic framework (Figure 1) to understand a comfortable and successful walkway system in a campus. In order to carry out naturalistic observations on the existing walkways of KFUPM, four popular zones were chosen. Based on the observation and analysis of the current state of the pedestrian walkways in the four zones, the ten design criteria were rated by the authors and recorded in Table 2. A series of in-depth interviews were thereafter carried out to identify, assess, and rate the 10 design criteria of a successful and comfortable walkway system by the user groups and were compared with the authors’ rating. The initial framework was then reformulated and refined (Figure 10) based on the feedback from the in-depth interviews.

The comparative analysis (Figure 9) of the authors and users (interviewees) ratings was carried out to identify shortcomings of the walkways. A questionnaire survey was completed by the middle eastern campus users and professionals to validate and assess the lack of design criteria of university campus walkway systems in the middle eastern arid environment. A statistical analysis was carried out to establish the correlations between design criteria influencing university campus walkway systems in the Middle Eastern arid environment.

This study found out that there is a lack of social interaction and activities in the middle eastern university campus open-air spaces and the user groups recommended that enriching the current state of the walkways is an excellent way of enhancing social activities. The study revealed the necessity of considering the 10 design criteria to obtain a successful campus walkway system in the middle eastern arid region. Addressing the shortcomings and implementing the 10 design criteria of the campus walkway system can ensure a safer, easily accessible, socially active, aesthetically pleasing, sustainable, and well-connected pedestrian network and a comfortable walking environment for university communities. This study indicates that this will enhance students’ intelligence, mental growth, and creativity and create a more congenial environment.

This study can be continued to find out the parameters of the three groups of design assessment criteria of the middle eastern arid campus walkway system as illustrated in the framework of Figure 10. However, this study did not further investigate the extent of interrelationships, overlaps between the design criteria, and therefore, it opens up new avenues for further research on the interrelationships, overlaps, and parameters of the design criteria for comfortable and successful walkway systems.