Stationary Activity Mapping

Summary

The Stationary Activity Mapping tool is a key part of any public life survey. It helps you map what people are doing in a space at a given time, such as sitting on a bench, playing sports, or performing live music. The result is a “snapshot” of activity in your survey area. By evaluating what is already happening in a place, we can begin to identify potential enhancements to public life.

To use this tool, you will move through the full survey area once each hour, marking where people are spending time, how many people are there, and what they’re doing. You will record activities such as sitting, eating, using electronics, or buying something. You will also estimate each person’s age and gender to build a picture of whether the space is inclusive, welcoming, and accessible to a broad range of people. Additionally, we recommend taking notes of any observations you make during your mapping. It’s important to note if anything out of the ordinary happens.