A new behavioral evaluation framework for early-stage spatial optimization in high-mobility transit architecture design by applying virtual reality

Efficient wayfinding and spatial comfort are critical performance dimensions for high-mobility transit architecture, yet user-centered evaluation is rarely integrated into early-stage design workflows. This study proposes a virtual reality (VR)-driven behavioral evaluation framework integrating immersive navigation, trajectory tracking, and perceptual assessment for a comparative analysis of alternative spatial configurations, demonstrated via a single railway station redesign case study with multiple VR scenarios testing spatial geometry variations. Results reveal observable tendencies within the experimental sample, including improved navigation under unobstructed configurations and user preference for partially enclosed yet visually open spaces. The framework supports evidence-informed design decisions and highlights the potential of VR as a data-generating tool for early-stage spatial optimization, with its generalizability constrained by the study’s single-site scope and limited sample size, requiring further validation in larger-scale, multi-context future work.