Who is known for the concept of mental mapping and authored "The Image of the City"?

The concept of mental mapping is primarily associated with Kevin Lynch, who introduced it in his seminal work "The Image of the City." In this book, Lynch explores how individuals perceive and navigate urban environments. He discusses five key elements — paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks — that help individuals create mental maps of their surroundings. These mental maps are subjective and shaped by personal experiences, memories, and interactions with the environment, thereby influencing how people conceptualize and engage with the city.

Lynch's ideas have significantly impacted urban design and planning by emphasizing the importance of legibility and imageability in the urban landscape. His approach encourages planners and architects to consider how spatial organization and physical features contribute to people's understanding and experience of a city, making it easier for them to navigate and relate to their urban environment. The other figures mentioned, while influential in their own right, have not centered their work on mental mapping in the way Lynch has.