AD ALTA
JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
and Linz (Upper Austria). The university campuses of the
University of Graz, Johannes Kepler University in Linz – JKU,
the University of Vienna and the Vienna University of
Economics and Business were selected for the evaluation. These
spaces have been selected with regard to their focus, functioning,
size and location, in order to ensure sufficient diversity while
maintaining the relevance of the examples in the Central
European context. The results of all measurements were
subsequently compared with the results from the university
campus of the Slovak University of Agriculture, where long-
term research is underway.
Figure 1: For the needs of this research, campuses of the three
largest Austrian cities were selected (Vienna – 2 campuses,
Graz, Linz) and one campus located in Nitra, Slovakia.
Source: Čibik and Štěpánková
(2020), vectorized by authors.
3.1 Research phases
The preparatory phase: The aim of the preparatory phase
was to locate and collect information from the professional
literature and related documents in order to obtain the
necessary theoretical perspective and orientation in the
researched issues. During the data processing,
consultations and discussions took place with several
experts in the field of urban planning and the concept of
public spaces in the form of personal meetings. After
expanding the knowledge pool, the research goals were
defined in the preparatory phase. The acquired theoretical
knowledge accompanied the preparation of the
methodology of multicriteria evaluation of university
campuses and their potential. Subsequently, university
campuses that meet the characteristics of the European or
combined concept of university campuses and are similar
in their features were selected (see chapter concepts of
university campuses).
The preparatory phase before obtaining results: During this
phase it was necessary to locate the universities that were
included in the work database within the city and study the
available information about the university campus: area,
campus plan with description of individual buildings,
number of students, number of employees and others. In
the case of the university campus, which was larger in size,
the discussed area was divided into smaller working areas.
The phase of obtaining results: Within this phase, selected
university campuses were assessed on the basis of the
methodology of multicriteria evaluation of university
campuses and their potential. The evaluation was based on
qualitative
research methods, in particular semi-
standardized and non-standardized observations and in-
depth interviews, the main advantage of which is that they
provide much more detailed information than data obtained
through other collection methods, such as surveys. In
addition to the evaluation through the methodology, the
process of obtaining results also includes numerous visits
to the area, photographs of the area including individual
buildings, and in-depth interviews outside the evaluation
with users of the area.
The procedures for preparation of results
Description of the university campus: Basic data and other
important information about the university campus, which
accompanies and informs the reader when reading the
evaluation of the object. In addition to the data about the
authors of the building, the exact address, the parcel
number and the date of construction, other data (additional
information) that the author collected are also provided. It
is also recommended to add information on property
relations, type of area and number of units (eg buildings,
vegetation).
Location of the university campus: Graphical
representation of the location of the university campus
within the city also represents a significant part of the
evaluation process, as it brings the reader closer to the
evaluation of the type of university campus. According to
the typology of university campuses, we distinguish 3
concepts of different approaches to the creation of
university campuses (see chapter concepts of university
campuses). The graphic also demonstrates the urban
structure in the immediate vicinity of the university
campus.
Structure of the architecture and plan of the university
campus: A structure that graphically presents the layout of
the buildings of the university campus, its inter-pavilion
spaces and the overall layout. A map or orientation plan of
the university campus with color-coded types of buildings
within the campus, location of services, parking lots and
other objects of the university.
The data and information processing phase: Each space
was evaluated according to an identical structure on the
basis of information obtained by qualitative research
methods. In the conclusion, an evaluation scheme was
created for each space to help visualize and compare the
obtained information. Graphs and other graphic materials
describe the current state of the evaluated university
campuses in detail and serve as a more detailed
interpretation of individual attributes. The obtained data
was evaluated on the basis of indicator sets within the
evaluation scheme, which enables visual and parametric
comparison of individual projects. The provided
methodology is sufficient for the needs of evaluation
research. The objectification of the obtained results was
ensured by a quantitative survey, which includes
multicriteria evaluation.
3.2 Methodology background
The methodology was developed on the basis of two published
practice-verified methodologies. One of them is the publication
of the city of Hlohovec, which was elaborated within the scope
of strategic policy of the city - "Concept of public spaces in
Hlohovec" (Lukačovič et al., 2016). The methodology of public
space evaluation was created during the "workshop" led by
architect Adam Lukačovič. The second publication is
"Methodology for assessing the quality of squares" (Kilnarová et
al., 2014). Both methods of evaluating public spaces are based
on the methodology of public spaces by Gehl (2013). The
methodology of the Danish architect Jan Gehl (2002) is based on
three stages: first life, then space and then buildings. This
thought process in the stage of the creation of public spaces
would ensure the highest standard in the issue of urban
development (Salerno, 2011). Both methodologies were
elaborated into one comprehensive methodology of evaluation of
university campuses, while the hierarchization, division and
naming of some of the attributes were altered. Subsequently, it
was supplemented with attributes that directly affect the issue of
university campuses as well as the needs of its users (student,
employee). The basic question that the methodology addresses is
how an ideal university campus should look like and how to
characterize the criteria that indicate its quality.
3.3 Methodology of multi-criteria evaluation of the quality of
university campuses and their potential
The multicriteria evaluation of quality requires the presence of a
person or group of people who are guided directly in the area. It
is based on one's own impressions and experiences, so the
evaluation may be subjectively influenced to some extent. It
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