Active Transport, the Built Environment, and Human Health

2011 ◽  
pp. 43-65
Author(s):  
Takemi Sugiyama ◽  
Maike Neuhaus ◽  
Neville Owen
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Active Transport

scholarly journals Built environment changes and active transport to school among adolescents: BEATS Natural Experiment Study protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e034899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Mandic ◽  
Debbie Hopkins ◽  
Enrique García Bengoechea ◽  
Antoni Moore ◽  
Susan Sandretto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Natural Experiment ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Natural Experiments ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionNatural experiments are considered a priority for examining causal associations between the built environment (BE) and physical activity (PA) because the randomised controlled trial design is rarely feasible. Few natural experiments have examined the effects of walking and cycling infrastructure on PA and active transport in adults, and none have examined the effects of such changes on PA and active transport to school among adolescents. We conducted the Built Environment and Active Transport to School (BEATS) Study in Dunedin city, New Zealand, in 2014–2017. Since 2014, on-road and off-road cycling infrastructure construction has occurred in some Dunedin neighbourhoods, including the neighbourhoods of 6 out of 12 secondary schools. Pedestrian-related infrastructure changes began in 2018. As an extension of the BEATS Study, the BEATS Natural Experiment (BEATS-NE) (2019–2022) will examine the effects of BE changes on adolescents’ active transport to school in Dunedin, New Zealand.Methods and analysisThe BEATS-NE Study will employ contemporary ecological models for active transport that account for individual, social, environmental and policy factors. The published BEATS Study methodology (surveys, accelerometers, mapping, Geographic Information Science analysis and focus groups) and novel methods (environmental scan of school neighbourhoods and participatory mapping) will be used. A core component continues to be the community-based participatory approach with the sustained involvement of key stakeholders to generate locally relevant data, and facilitate knowledge translation into evidence-based policy and planning.Ethics and disseminationThe BEATS-NE Study has been approved by the University of Otago Ethics Committee (reference: 17/188). The results will be disseminated through scientific publications and symposia, and reports and presentations to stakeholders.Trial registration numberACTRN12619001335189.

scholarly journals Sociodemographic and Built Environment Associates of Travel to School by Car among New Zealand Adolescents: Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 9138
Author(s):  
Sandra Mandic ◽  
Erika Ikeda ◽  
Tom Stewart ◽  
Nicholas Garrett ◽  
Debbie Hopkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Traffic Congestion ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
School Level ◽  
Stepwise Logistic Regression ◽  
Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽  
Intersection Density ◽  
Car Travel

Travelling to school by car diminishes opportunities for physical activity and contributes to traffic congestion and associated noise and air pollution. This meta-analysis examined sociodemographic characteristics and built environment associates of travelling to school by car compared to using active transport among New Zealand (NZ) adolescents. Four NZ studies (2163 adolescents) provided data on participants’ mode of travel to school, individual and school sociodemographic characteristics, distance to school and home-neighbourhood built-environment features. A one-step meta-analysis using individual participant data was performed in SAS. A final multivariable model was developed using stepwise logistic regression. Overall, 60.6% of participants travelled to school by car. When compared with active transport, travelling to school by car was positively associated with distance to school. Participants residing in neighbourhoods with high intersection density and attending medium deprivation schools were less likely to travel to school by car compared with their counterparts. Distance to school, school level deprivation and low home neighbourhood intersection density are associated with higher likelihood of car travel to school compared with active transport among NZ adolescents. Comprehensive interventions focusing on both social and built environment factors are needed to reduce car travel to school.

Where Are Youth Active? Roles of Proximity, Active Transport, and Built Environment

2008 ◽  
Vol 40 (12) ◽  
pp. 2071-2079 ◽  
Author(s):  
HELENE MOLLIE GROW ◽  
BRIAN E. SAELENS ◽  
JACQUELINE KERR ◽  
NEFERTITI H. DURANT ◽  
GREGORY J. NORMAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Active Transport

scholarly journals Built Environment and Active Transport to School (BEATS) Study: protocol for a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. e011196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Mandic ◽  
John Williams ◽  
Antoni Moore ◽  
Debbie Hopkins ◽  
Charlotte Flaherty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Study Protocol ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

scholarly journals What Have We Learned about the Microbiomes of Indoor Environments?

mSystems ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent Stephens
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Knowledge Base ◽  
Human Health ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Advanced Knowledge ◽  
The Way

ABSTRACT The advent and application of high-throughput molecular techniques for analyzing microbial communities in the indoor environment have led to illuminating findings and are beginning to change the way we think about human health in relation to the built environment. Here I review recent studies on the microbiology of the built environment, organize their findings into 12 major thematic categories, and comment on how these studies have or have not advanced knowledge in each area beyond what we already knew from over 100 years of applying culture-based methods to building samples. The advent and application of high-throughput molecular techniques for analyzing microbial communities in the indoor environment have led to illuminating findings and are beginning to change the way we think about human health in relation to the built environment. Here I review recent studies on the microbiology of the built environment, organize their findings into 12 major thematic categories, and comment on how these studies have or have not advanced knowledge in each area beyond what we already knew from over 100 years of applying culture-based methods to building samples. I propose that while we have added tremendous complexity to the rich existing knowledge base, the practical implications of this added complexity remain somewhat elusive. It remains to be seen how this new knowledge base will change how we design, build, and operate buildings. Much more research is needed to better understand the complexity with which indoor microbiomes may affect human health in both positive and negative ways.

scholarly journals Active Transport to School and School Neighbourhood Built Environment across Urbanisation Settings in Otago, New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 9013
Author(s):  
Mohammad Lutfur Rahman ◽  
Tessa Pocock ◽  
Antoni Moore ◽  
Sandra Mandic
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
School Level ◽  
Residential Density ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
Walkability Index ◽  
Intersection Density

The school neighbourhood built environment (BE) can facilitate active transport to school (ATS) in adolescents. Most previous studies examining ATS were conducted in large urban centres and focused on BE of home neighbourhoods. This study examined correlations between school-level ATS rates among adolescents, objectively measured school neighbourhood BE features, and adolescents’ perceptions of the school route across different urbanisation settings. Adolescents (n = 1260; 15.2 ± 1.4 years; 43.6% male) were recruited from 23 high schools located in large, medium, and small urban areas, and rural settings in Otago, New Zealand. Adolescents completed an online survey. School neighbourhood BE features were analysed using Geographic Information Systems. School neighbourhood intersection density, residential density and walkability index were higher in large urban areas compared to other urbanisation settings. School-level ATS rates (mean 38.1%; range: 27.8%–43.9%) were negatively correlated with school neighbourhood intersection density (r = −0.58), residential density (r = −0.60), and walkability index (r = −0.64; all p < 0.01). School-level ATS rates were also negatively associated with adolescents’ perceived safety concerns for walking (r = −0.76) and cycling (r = −0.78) to school, high traffic volume (r = −0.82), and presence of dangerous intersections (r = −0.75; all p < 0.01). Future initiatives to encourage ATS should focus on school neighbourhood BE features and minimise adolescents’ traffic safety related concerns.

Nature in buildings and health design

2018 ◽  
pp. 247-251
Author(s):  
Stephen R. Kellert
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Biophilic Design ◽  
Evolutionary Origins ◽  
Prevailing Paradigm ◽  
Functional Development ◽  
Health And Well Being

This chapter discusses a hypothesized inherent human need to affiliate with nature (‘biophilia’), its continuing importance to human health and well-being, and how to meet this need in modern society through design of the built environment, with particular focus on healthcare facilities. The theory of biophilia is introduced, its evolutionary origins, effects on human health and well-being, and impediments to its functional development in modern society, particularly the prevailing paradigm of design of the built environment. The chapter describes the notion of ‘biophilic design’, the attempt to address biophilia in the modern built environment. Principles and practices of biophilic design are delineated. The chapter concludes with a brief description of examples of biophilia and biophilic design in existing healthcare facilities.

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