Dr Asya Natapov

I apply quantitative methods to encode urban space as networks of navigational decisions and assess it through behavioural experiments in an immersive virtual reality. With a view to cross-fertilising behavioural sciences, computation and urban design, I collaborate with experts from diverse fields, such as cognitive psychology, neuroscience, physics, geomatics engineering and computer science.

I welcome postgraduate enquirers who wish to pursue a PhD in my areas of research interests.

Current research projects

• Spatial cognition, visual perception and spatial memory
• Route choice, route planning and navigation systems
• Urban morphology and visibility
• The Impact Hub, Healthy and Innovative 含羞草视频 (Town Deal Grant DLUHC with Charnwood Borough Council)
• Branching Out: New Routes to Valuing Urban Treescapes (NERC/AHRC/ESRC, 含羞草视频 with Stockholm Environment Institute, York University, Open University and Forest Research UK)

Recently completed research projects

• Digital information, modelling and manufacturing for post-war reconstruction of the built environment (UK Research and Innovation, 含羞草视频 with Beketov National University of Urban Economy, Ukraine)
• AgeCogCity: How does visual perception shape our cities? Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (Horizon 2020 European Commission. The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation)
• Gender and ethnicity in the Whitechapel Market (Israel Science Foundation Post Doctorial Project in Social Sciences)
• Spatial features of evacuation wayfinding (The Joan and Reginald Coleman-Cohen Postdoctoral Project. British Technion IIT Society)
• Linking building-circulation typology and wayfinding. German Research Foundation (DFG) Spatial Cognition Interdisciplinary Transregional Collaborative Research Centre, Institute of Computer Science and Social Research, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg

• Cohen A, Dalyot S, Natapov A, Nelson T (2024) How accessible are cities for visually impaired pedestrians? A case of Greater London. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 0(0). EPB: Urban Analytics and City Science 0(0). DOI: 10.1177/23998083241256402
• Natapov A, Cohen A, Dalyot S (2024) Urban planning and design with points of interest and visual perception. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 51(3). DOI:10.1177/23998083231191338
• Adamu Z, Hardy O, Natapov A (2023) The Impact of Greenspace, Walking, and Cycling on the Health of Urban Residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of London. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20, 6360. DOI:10.3390/ijerph20146360
• Natapov A, Parush A, Laufer L, Fisher-Gewirtzman D (2022) Architectural features and indoor evacuation wayfinding: The starting point matters. Safety Science, 145, 105483. DOI:10.1016/j.ssci.2021.105483

Undergraduate

• CVA132 Principles of Urban Planning
• CVA130 Design Skills and Urban Data Analytics
• CVC114 Planning Theories in Context
• CVZ002 Professional Practice
• CVB122 Design and Place Making
• CVC093 The Business of Architecture
• CVC091 Design Interventions

Postgraduate

• CVD025 Applied Urban Planning and Design Project

Current projects

• Re:PLACE (REgeneration: PLanning Active Centres), Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP, Innovate UK) 含羞草视频 with The Oval Partnership Architecture Limited

Recently completed projects

• Smart Environments Research Initiative (SERI), ETH Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
• Study of Real Estate Economics and Real Estate Appraisals, Ruppin Academic Cente

Key industry collaborators

• Charnwood Borough Council
• Leicester City Council
• Oval Partnership Architecture
• Wedderburn Transport Planning
• Alan Turing Institute

I am an architect by training and a graduate of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Before my doctoral studies, I worked for several architectural firms in the USA specialising in developing concepts for large-scale urban projects. While working on my doctorate, I was invited to be a guest researcher to the Spatial Cognition Research Centre of Computer Science and Social Research Institute at Freiburg University. As a research assistant, I have also participated in several projects of the European Union on Architectural Cultural Heritage.

Professional affiliations

• Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
• Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN)
• Association for the promotion of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)
• Commission on Cognitive Issues in Geographic Information Visualization (CogVis), International Cartographic Association (ICA)

Awards

• The British Academy Endorsement. Promising Talent in Social Sciences, Anthropology and Geography
• Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Seal of Excellence Certificate. Horizon 2020 European Commission. The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation
• The Raphael Reiffer Prize for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis. Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning IIT

External activities

• Member of Editorial Advisory Board Cambridge Scholars Publishing
• Reviewer in Professional Journals: Landscape and Urban Planning; Architectural Science Review (ASR); Computers, Environment and Urban Systems (CEUS); Journal of Urban Affairs; Journal of Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science; International Journal of Geographical Information Science; ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information; Journal of Scientific Research and Essays (SRE); Journal of Architectural Engineering Technology

Key collaborators

My research and enterprise activities are conducted with a range of academic and stakeholder partners, including:

• University College London (UCL)
• ETH Zurich, Chair of Cognitive Science
• Future Cities Laboratory, Singapore ETH Centre
• Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (IIT)
• University of Life Sciences in Lublin
• Beketov National University of Urban Economy, Ukraine
• Centre for Spatial Perception and Concrete Experience (SPaCE) University of Southern California
• Spatial Pattern Analysis and Research (SPAR) Lab UC Santa Barbara