This analysis involves determining the points of interest in subway buffer zones. These points of interest were partitioned into six categories, as follows (MBTA website from 2000 was the source of the dataset):
 

• Government Buildings
• Hospitals
• Libraries
• Museums
• Theaters and Convention Centers
• Universities/Colleges

After matching the dataset entries for each point of interest with the street layer, the "Centroid within" method was used to investigate the location of each point of interest in relation to the subway buffer.  On the average, 68% of the entire collection of all points of interest were located in the subway buffer zone.  Points of interest might thus be regarded as well distributed and within walking distance from subway platforms. The following animated map shows the distribution of all points of interest in the Boston area and their relation to the subway buffer zone (Map 17).
 
 

The next two maps form an information system for taking a closer look at the Downtown Crossing area. As shown on Map 18, the geographic environment of the downtown crossing, where the Charles River and the sea meet, seems to induce the development of the area.  It is easy to see why it is difficult to squeeze subway lines into this small area. I have combined the following two maps and made a clickable information map for the area, in which each point on the map has detailed information about the place retrieved from the dataset using ColdFusion.  To gain access to that map, and to other efforts of the author involving ColdFusion, contact the author directly (hshoon@umich.edu).
 
 

Map 20 shows an animated map using spider diagrams. Spider diagrams simply focus on connectivity and suggest regional outline based on point position rather than on, for example, arbitrary administrative or geometric criteria.  These particular spider diagrams suggest the extent of dispersal of points of interest of various types around the subway crossing point, Downtown Crossing.  A more linear and less dispersed spider diagram suggests a type of point of interest that might be more easily serviced by linear transport routes, such as subway lines.  Note the concentration of various types of points of interest in various sectors of the Downtown Crossing.
 
 

Libraries and museums, however, seem to be evenly distributed.  These points of interest are relatively well placed within the Downtown Crossing area. The average walking distance from the center of the area to each point of interest is 0.54 miles, which is smaller than MBTA’s average working distance, 0.75 miles, for both handicapped and non-handicapped citizens. The observed spatial pattern is interesting; it is a matter of future research to understand if the pattern noted above was one that was planned at the outset as a part of some sort of master plan, or if the pattern evolved over time, perhaps in response to zoning ordinances or public interest.