Project description
Designing cities with the brain in mind
Quantitative geographic analysis struggles with a disconnect between digital representations of space and people’s perceptions of it. This affects how we analyse, understand and design cities. The ERC-funded ReCoGNiSe project aims to transform the digital representation of geographic space to better reflect how human spatial cognition influences choices and behaviours. It will develop methodologies and tools that integrate spatial cognition with geographic information science (GIScience). The project will create new representations of spatial features and relations that align with how the brain encodes space. It will also advance open science in geography by producing open-source representations through transparent methodologies. Lastly, it will provide insights into walking behaviour, with the overall aim of supporting the planning of active travel infrastructure.
Objective
At the heart of quantitative geographic analysis exists a critical disconnect. Digital representations of space, upon which all spatial data are based, do not reflect how geographic spaces are remembered by people. This fundamental issue of spatial representation has profound implications for how we analyse, model, and ultimately, design our cities and societies. If we fail to accurately represent cities as people see them, how can we expect our computational methods to accurately understand them?
The ReCoGNiSe project will create a step-change in the digital representation of geographic space to better reflect the facets of spatial cognition that everyday shape human behaviour. In doing so, the project will build methodologies, evidence, and tools that integrate spatial cognition and GIScience. It will build new representations of spatial features that capture the multidimensionality of spatial learning. It will build representations of spatial relations that replicate how they are encoded in the brain. It will produce spatial representations and code that contribute towards the rapid advances in open science in geography.
But going further, ReCoGNiSe will make manifest contributions to how we understand spatial cognition in the context of sustainable active travel. Following an extensive mixed methods analysis of the spatial cognition of walking, the project will use a range of experimental methods to test the validity of these new representations of space in predicting walking behaviour. This phase will grow the evidence base on walking behaviour; but also provide a new way forward for its effective design and promotion.
ReCoGNiSe sets an ambitious target, building representations that can unite geographers and neuroscientists on common ground – geographic space. Achieving this objective could create a new paradigm in cognitive geography study, with significant implications for how we shape and design spaces – for people.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
LS2 9JT Leeds
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.