Emergence of eye-tracking in architectural research: a review of studies 1976–2021

Eye-tracking has become a central method in examining how people perceive architecture and the built environment around them. This review analyses the available peer-reviewed experiments and methodological developments in the use of eye-tracking in architecture from 1976 to 2021. It provides an overview of the architectural subject focus, number of participants, stimuli, capture methods, analysis approach, and other methodical and experimental design parameters used in each study. It synthesizes the overall development and findings of (1) the use of eye-tracking in architectural research in general, (2) the development of methodology, (3) investigations into the gaze pattern differences between architects and non-architects, (4) the correlation between gaze patterns and architectural elements, and (5) the correlation between gaze patterns and architectural preferences. These studies are examined to identify challenges for future research. The review provides architects and researchers with a comprehensive overview of existing knowledge to aid their research and design efforts.

眼动追踪（Eye-tracking）现已成为探究人们如何感知建筑及周遭建成环境的核心研究方法。本综述梳理了1976年至2021年间建筑领域内眼动追踪应用相关的同行评议实验及方法论进展，概述了各项研究中涉及的建筑学科研究主题、被试人数、视觉刺激材料、数据采集方法、分析路径，以及其他实验设计与方法论相关参数。本综述综合梳理了五大主题的整体发展脉络与研究发现：(1) 眼动追踪在建筑研究中的通用应用现状；(2) 相关方法论的演进历程；(3) 建筑师与非建筑师群体注视模式差异的相关探究；(4) 注视模式与建筑元素间的关联性；(5) 注视模式与建筑偏好间的关联性。本综述对上述研究展开剖析，以明确未来研究可着力攻克的挑战，并为建筑师与科研人员提供现有研究成果的系统性综述，助力其开展相关研究与设计工作。