Characteristic Analysis of the Built Environment of Ferry Terminals: A Case Study of Mokpo, South Korea

Authors

Hwayoung Kim, Mokpo National Maritime UniversityFollow
Jungyeon Choi, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Yunwoo Nam, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jong-Hoon Youn, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow

ORCID IDs

Hwayoung Kim https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2680-3613

Jungyeon Choi https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9612-3029

Date of this Version

2-2022

Citation

Kim, H.; Choi, J.; Nam, Y.; Youn, J.-H. Characteristic Analysis of the Built Environment of Ferry Terminals: A Case Study of Mokpo, South Korea. Sustainability 2022, 14, 2115. https://doi.org/10.3390/ su14042115

Comments

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license

Abstract

Ferry terminals are an essential facility for those frequently commuting between islands or towns ashore. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure a smooth and efficient flow of passengers and vehicles while guaranteeing safety and convenience at the ferry terminal. This study investigates and evaluates the walking path environment and determines the passengers’ walkability and walking satisfaction of ferry terminals in Korea. As a case study, to measure the passenger’s overall perception and satisfaction of the built environment of the ferry terminal, we conducted an importance–performance analysis for two ferry terminals located in Mokpo city of Korea. The segments of the poor built environment in terms of walking were found. Furthermore, the ANOVA and t-test results confirmed that the satisfaction level of the built environment varied by age and residential location of passengers. There was a significant difference in satisfaction between the groups (age and residential location) in the walking path segments while embarking and disembarking the ferry. Passengers’ perceptions and walking satisfaction were different depending on the features of the built environment, including public transport accessibility, layout, distance, and surface condition of the walking path of the ferry terminal. As a limitation of the study, the case study was conducted only in the Mokpo region due to the impact of COVID-19, and the sample survey was also conducted in a short period of time. In addition, further studies are needed on the generalization of passengers’ walkability in ferry terminals.