Understanding spatiotemporal patterns of COVID-19 transmissions and their relationships with the built environment is crucial for effective pandemic prevention. While existing research has primarily ...focused on the locations inhabited or visited by COVID-19 cases, limited attention has been given to the spatiotemporal pattern of transmission locations and their associations with architectural design forms. This study addresses this research gap by examining the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of COVID-19 transmission locations and their associations with residential building forms in high density context of Hong Kong during the fifth wave of the outbreak. Employing information on n = 319 residential buildings with a restriction-testing declaration, we report that attributes of building blocks, especially design forms, and housing type were associated with transmission rates. Our findings revealed that public housing were more vulnerable to COVID-19 pandemic relative to private housing block. Relative to the L-shaped building form, Y- and X-shaped building forms had the lowest COVID-19 prevalence, adjusting for other factors. The study results provide valuable insights for urban designers, health authorities and policymakers regarding keys attributes of building forms and types that influence the transmission dynamics of COVID-19, exemplifying the role architectural design has on pandemic prevention. Evidence generated from this study can be tested in other high density contexts as we prepare to risk-proof our cities from future pandemics.
•Investigating the association between the built environment of residential buildings and building-level Covid-19 prevalence.•Assessment of the susceptibility of architectural design features to the transmission of COVID-19.•Identifying socioeconomically vulnerable people that are more subjected to COVID-19 transmission.
•We develop thresholds for environmental features supporting physical activity (PA).•Travel behavior data are mapped with objectively measured environmental data.•Optimal values for key environmental ...features supporting PA are quantified.•Systematic heterogeneity must be accounted in developing thresholds.•The thresholds can serve as “guiding tool” for policymakers, planners/engineers.
A novel evidence-based methodology is presented for determining place-based thresholds of objectively measured built environment features’ relationships with active travel. Using an innovative machine-learning based Generalized Additive Modeling framework, systematic heterogeneity fundamental to the development of well-justified and objective environmental thresholds is accounted for. The methodology is employed to model an individual’s likelihood of transport walking as a function of environmental factors using California Household Travel Survey linked with comprehensive built environment data. The results reveal strong and complex non-linear dependencies of likelihood of transport walking on environmental features that cannot be quantified using standard threshold detection methods. Thresholds for key environmental features to enhance active travel vary significantly across different socioeconomic groups. Accounting for strong income-based differences in development of environmental benchmarks is emphasized. The thresholds can serve as a useful guiding tool for policymakers, planners, engineers, and public health officials to track existing environmental conditions and healthy behaviors.
The socio-spatial segregation experienced by migrants has attracted considerable attention and an increasing number of studies have examined segregation in migrants’ daily activity space recently. ...However, research on activity diversity and spatial contact between local residents and migrants has been limited. This paper fills this knowledge gap by investigating the differences in the extensity, intensity, diversity and exclusivity of activity spaces among local residents, urban migrants and rural migrants based on their routine activities in suburban Shanghai, China. It finds that rural migrants have low daily mobility and are physically constrained, and there is spatial sorting of activity locations among different social groups. Neighborhood environment significantly influences activity space-based segregation: People who live in neighborhoods with higher POI density and better access to commercial establishments and public spaces have small activity spaces, while those who live in neighborhoods with mixed land use, better access to public transit, and higher street connectivity have more diverse activity participation. Neighborhoods with better public spaces and a lower land use mix promote shared activity spaces. This study uncovers the segregation suffered by migrants by examining the usage of urban space and spatial interactions among social groups, enhancing our understanding of activity space-based segregation in developing countries.
•We analyze the activity space-based segregation emphasizing diverse locations visited in residents' daily lives.•There is significant activity space-based segregation among hukou groups.•Rural migrants have limited daily mobility and are physically constrained in activity space.•Local residents tend not to share activity spaces with migrants.•Residential neighborhood attributes significantly influence activity space-based segregation.
•Living Lab Triangle implemented in the KTH Live-In Lab building innovation platform.•A SWOT analysis underpins current strengths and weaknesses of the KTH Live-In Lab.•Empirical data shows that ...smart building living labs can be financially sustainable.•Identification of critical conditions to enact smart building demonstrators.•Thorough analysis, measurable results and transparent evaluation of a Living Lab.
The adoption of innovation in the building sector is currently too slow for the ambitious sustainability goals that our societies have agreed upon. Living labs are open innovation ecosystems in real-life environments using iterative feedback processes throughout a lifecycle approach of an innovation to create sustainable impact. In the context of the built environment, such co-creative innovation and demonstration platforms are needed to facilitate the adoption of innovative technologies and concepts for more energy-efficient and sustainable buildings. However, their feasibility is not extensively proven. This paper illustrates the implementation and demonstrates the feasibility of the Living Labs Triangle Framework for buildings living labs. This conceptual framework has been used to conceive the KTH Live-In Lab, a living lab for buildings. The goal of the Live-In Lab was to create a co-creative open platform for research and education bridging the gap between industry and academia, featuring smart building demonstrators. The Living Lab Triangle Framework has been deployed to meet the goals of the Live-in Lab, and the resulting concept is described. This paper then analyses the methodological and operational results introducing performance metrics to measure the economic sustainability, the promotion of multidisciplinary research and development projects, dissemination and impact. The results are completed with a SWOT analysis identifying its current strengths and weaknesses. The results collected in this work fill a missing gap in the scientific literature on the performance of living labs and provide empirical evidence on the sustainability and impact of living labs.
Biodiversity and Health in the Urban Environment Marselle, Melissa R.; Lindley, Sarah J.; Cook, Penny A. ...
Current environmental health reports,
06/2021, Letnik:
8, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Purpose of review
Biodiversity underpins urban ecosystem functions that are essential for human health and well-being. Understanding how biodiversity relates to human health is a developing frontier ...for science, policy and practice. This article describes the beneficial, as well as harmful, aspects of biodiversity to human health in urban environments.
Recent findings
Recent research shows that contact with biodiversity of natural environments within towns and cities can be both positive and negative to human physical, mental and social health and well-being. For example, while viruses or pollen can be seriously harmful to human health, biodiverse ecosystems can promote positive health and well-being. On balance, these influences are positive. As biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate, research suggests that its loss could threaten the quality of life of all humans.
Summary
A key research gap is to understand—and evidence—the specific causal pathways through which biodiversity affects human health. A mechanistic understanding of pathways linking biodiversity to human health can facilitate the application of nature-based solutions in public health and influence policy. Research integration as well as cross-sector urban policy and planning development should harness opportunities to better identify linkages between biodiversity, climate and human health. Given its importance for human health, urban biodiversity conservation should be considered as public health investment.
Purpose of Review
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted daily-life activities around the world. Multiple countries and cities are implementing different mitigation strategies to reduce their ...transmission (e.g., physical distancing, stay-at-home orders, avoiding large gatherings). Such interventions have been related to positive and negative health externalities. Currently, the selection of mitigation strategies has not been systematically considering a long-term vision for urban health equity. This review presents evidence and a framework linking COVID-19 mitigation strategies, the built environment, and transport to health determinants and outcomes. In addition, the paper provides a set of urban interventions aimed at supporting COVID-19 mitigation strategies and promoting a long-term health equity vision.
Recent Findings
COVID-19 mitigation strategies, in addition to helping reduce disease transmission, have also decreased urban road transport, resulting in indirect benefits on air quality, traffic noise, and traffic incidents. On the other hand, the same mitigation strategies have had negative impacts on physical activity, mental health, home isolation, and access to transport options, among others. COVID-19 mitigation strategies are an opportunity to test and implement built environment and transport interventions aimed to maximize health equity and minimize health risks. National and local authorities should systematically integrate a long-term urban health equity vision when designing and implementing COVID-19 mitigation strategies.
Summary
COVID-19 offers an opportunity to rethink the built environment and transport infrastructure with the aim to support short-term mitigation strategies and reduce long-term urban health inequities.
China has entered a stage in which new rural construction and urbanization are rapidly developing. Considerable changes are occurring in rural China, and the built environment is different from that ...in the past; such difference directly influences the travel mode choice of rural residents. However, our knowledge on how the rural built environment influences the travel mode choice of rural residents in China remains limited. To fill this gap, this study combines on-site measurement methods, geographic information system (GIS) technology, and activity diary survey to obtain basic data regarding the built environment and the daily activities of rural residents. The multinomial logit (MNL) model is used to explore the relationship between the rural built environment and the travel mode choice of rural residents. Results show that building density significantly positively affects private car trips. This finding challenges earlier urban built environment research due to the considerable gap between rural and urban areas. An increase in road density increases the travel frequency of electric bicycles and motorcycles. Accessibility perception and preferences positively affect the probability of choosing to walk. Safety and neighborhood harmony perception positively affect the travel frequency of motorcycles and private cars. Rural residents who prefer a safe living environment are likely to choose walking for their daily travel. Despite the considerable achievements in the construction of rural roads, the frequency of public transportation remains low for rural residents. Therefore, additional attention should be given to the investment and construction of public transport facilities during rural urbanization.
Previous work on agglomeration economies ignores the built environment. This paper shows that the built environment matters, especially for commercial sectors that dominate city centers. Buildings ...are specialized beyond random assignment, in part because externality-generating anchor tenants skew a building's other tenants towards the anchor's industry. An anchor elsewhere on the blockface has a much weaker effect, and one that is weaker still if across the street, suggesting rapidly attenuating agglomeration economies. Attenuation is pronounced for retail and information-oriented office industries but is absent for manufacturing. Building managers have incentives and capacities to partly internalize local externalities, contributing to urban productivity.
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