The purpose of this study was to induce the concept for senior community activation in ecology related theory, to develop and verify the senior community activation network measurement model through the interpretation and conversion process of city co...
The purpose of this study was to induce the concept for senior community activation in ecology related theory, to develop and verify the senior community activation network measurement model through the interpretation and conversion process of city construction. It is also prospective study regarding the future city preparing for the aged society. It is a research methodology from the perspective of basic approach to philosophy and academic sense of value based on the theories of other disciplines (ecology related theories) applying to the process of design methodology as pan-discipline study.
In the life cycle of modern society old age is largely expanded and psychological alienation, increase of loneliness and cut off from the society became social problems. Therefore we need a study of city construction from the perspective of social interaction such as senior community. However, studies related to senior community approaching city construction area are biased to the section of community facilities only. They are lack of the view from the perspective of city and there is no empirical study regarding this. Thus, the originality of this study can be found that it is an inclusive and empirical study regarding the senior community in the city space.
The ultimate purposes of this study were to enhance the sense of community of senior citizens in their area by constructing city space network to activate senior community and to communicate with the society. The detailed purposes are as follows; first, we need to induce the network concept to activate the senior community according to the city constructional interpretation of ecology related theories. Second, we will propose network relation configuration diagram composed of major factors for senior community activation. Third, we will propose senior community network activation measurement model that can be utilized as a guideline in senior citizen related policy making and city construction planning. Fourth, we will provide alternative method to activate the community in the target area through the model verification process.
Modern city is composed with various redundant functional and semantic networks. In this study a network is understood as a overlap of the layers assuming the activated senior community.
The community activation network measurement model developed in this study is configured with total 20 layers. Each layer is considered as a measurement item. Here, a measurement model is configured based on the transportation pattern data of senior citizens and empirical and quantitative analysis materials through the preference analysis.
Results of the study are as follows;
First, as the network to activate the senior community based on the ecology related theory, autocatalysis network, identity of place implementation network and lasting network were induced.
Second, for the network configuration, we need factors to be solved from the institutional and administrational aspect and social psychological factors as well as the factors to be solved from the physical aspect.
Third, the senior community activation network measurement model composed of three networks is composed of total 9 layer sets. If removing the redundancy by network, we will have total 20 layers. It will be the evaluation criteria how much the senior community in the area (block) is activated. When configuring the measurement model, we can confirm that we need ecological environment related, health related and emotion related layers to construct a senior community activation network.
Fourth, when analyzing the senior communities using the senior community activation measurement model developed in this study, Eunpyung block was evaluated as ‘Most Optimal’(Range 01), Geoyeo Macheon Block as ‘Optimal Ⅰ’(Range 02), Singil Block ‘Optimal Ⅱ’(Range 03). Although there was a little difference in the value, the target area New Towns (Eunpyeong, Singil and Geoyeo Macheon Block) seem to have good level of senior community activation. Additionally, all the three new towns seem to consider the ecology related aspects, it was confirmed that we need compliments in Korean traditional market related layer, modern layer and modern culture heritage layer.
This study is meaningful in that it measured the optimality of the senior community activation level, proposed alternative methods and tried to construct a city space appropriate for the situation through the model based on the empirical research and analysis. It is judged that this methodology and model can not only play the role of new methodology in city construction area but also contribute to senior welfare society.
It should be noted that the result of this study is example only and not an absolute evaluation criteria. It did not mention problem making situations or any other problems related to New Town. The measurement model that was developed in this study is the expandable model that can be applied to the other areas.
The subjects of this study were limited to the senior citizens over 65 years excluding provisional ones (50 ~64). Prospective aged people in the future including the provisional ones must show different characteristics. This study was performed to prepare for the near future through the present (situational) analysis. Therefore, the provisional elderly who were not included in the scope of this study should be studied in future studies because they will configure a different network measurement model through the analysis on those prospective aged people layer.