Download or read book Study of Environmental Variables Affecting Walkability written by Xitong Li and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Walking has widely been considered by researchers to be important for physical health and a key to increasing social interactions in the local community (Layden, 2003), as well as a mode of transportation in such an era of high fossil fuel price (Maibach, 2009). The negative effects of low-density, automobile-dependent, segregated-use patterns of land and transportation systems typical of postwar suburban development are attracting public health attention. As a result, more designers and urban planners are beginning to take the concept of "walkable design" into consideration in their projects. In order to promote walking activity in terms of urban design, potential needs of study on the relationship between physical environmental variables and an individual's walking activities have been identified by many researchers (Saelens et al., 2003; Brownson et al., 2009). The purpose of this research is to study the impact of environmental variables affecting walkability on Main Street downtown Fort Worth. This research identifies the environmental variables accounted in design literature, and assesses their impacts on the relationship between walking activity and build environment on Main Street, Fort Worth. A comprehensive literature review has been done on the associations between environmental variables and walking activity, as well as the measures for walkability level. This research adopts quantitative methods (Deming and Swaffield, 2011) to understand environmental variables impacting walkability on Main Street, Fort Worth. Data collection methods primarily involve walkthrough survey (Lynch, 1959; Gupte, 2009) of 25 users who are selected as a result of convenient sampling. The research also uses passive observation techniques (Francis, 2002), and review of secondary and archival data with the Graphic Information Systems (GIS) to further delineate physical environment in downtown Fort Worth. The data analysis is the triangulation (Cohen and Manion, 1986) of the data collected from various sources to identify and asses varying impacts of environmental variables. The results of the research show the various environmental variables and conditions of the built environment influence walking activity in the case of Main Street Fort Worth. Results of the study indicate that environmental variables such as fenestration, the dimension of sidewalk and presence of retail affecting walkability the most on Main Street. The findings from this research provide insight into how landscape architects can better understand the interaction between the built environment and walking behavior in influencing each other. This research can help landscape architects and other design professionals in their future design projects to develop and choose more walkable urban design alternatives by predicting walking activity and providing suggestions on improvements of walkable urban spaces.

Download or read book Walkability and built environment written by Sujan Shrestha and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2020-08-19 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Master's Thesis from the year 2020 in the subject Art - Architecture / History of Construction, Deakin University, language: English, abstract: Car-centric urban design practice, the principle with which most cities in the world are being built today or since mid-century of 20th century, is affecting the essence of human-scale design or pedestrian friendly/ walkable friendly design. With the rise of numerous problems already in the world with excessive use of non-renewable energy, the talks and discussions are being conducted for the ways of reduction of use of non-renewable energy on global basis, or for the formulation of alternative ways of high use of energy. Not only from problems-related-with-energy perspective, but from social, health, and economic viewpoint as well, just prioritising car-driven approach seems to no longer serve the built environment in a positive way. Several planners, designers and built environment professionals have put forwarded words to re-think about the way urban environments are being built today, and new approaches of prioritising from human-scale perspective i.e. pedestrian or walkable friendly built environment to be explored and given a thought. This research paper concentrates on investigating the deeper understanding about walkable friendly urban environment, the need of today's world. In this paper, framework that shows the relationship of walking activity and behaviour with surrounding physical features, is derived from literature review for the systematic visual assessment. There is no clear and a comprehensive understanding about one particular way that depicts influencing factors of walkability, the corelates between the urban environment and walking behaviour not explained clearly, or if explained the method is somewhat complex and inflexible. Throughout existing knowledge in literature, there is lack of one consistent method of assessment. This research has attempted in finding simpler methods/solution, incorporating with existing knowledge and methods to investigate underlying factors possibly informing about the degree of walkability scale of an urban environment. The study of observation is done on the commercial streets in the central Geelong with the selection of variety of streets form and functions.

Download or read book U S Health in International Perspective written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2013-04-12 with total page 421 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States is among the wealthiest nations in the world, but it is far from the healthiest. Although life expectancy and survival rates in the United States have improved dramatically over the past century, Americans live shorter lives and experience more injuries and illnesses than people in other high-income countries. The U.S. health disadvantage cannot be attributed solely to the adverse health status of racial or ethnic minorities or poor people: even highly advantaged Americans are in worse health than their counterparts in other, "peer" countries. In light of the new and growing evidence about the U.S. health disadvantage, the National Institutes of Health asked the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to convene a panel of experts to study the issue. The Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries examined whether the U.S. health disadvantage exists across the life span, considered potential explanations, and assessed the larger implications of the findings. U.S. Health in International Perspective presents detailed evidence on the issue, explores the possible explanations for the shorter and less healthy lives of Americans than those of people in comparable countries, and recommends actions by both government and nongovernment agencies and organizations to address the U.S. health disadvantage.

Download or read book The physical environment and health Implications for the planning and management of healthy cities written by Linchuan Yang and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2023-08-30 with total page 1001 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Transit Villages in the 21st Century written by Michael Bernick and published by McGraw-Hill Companies. This book was released on 1997 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a guide to the new wave of "transit villages", communities that hug metropolitan rail systems in order to reduce "gridlock" and expedite growth. It shows how this new approach to urban development encourages community development, and includes case

Download or read book Walkable City written by Jeff Speck and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2013-11-12 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents a plan for American cities that focuses on making downtowns walkable and less attractive to drivers through smart growth and sustainable design

Download or read book Impact of Built and Social Environmental Factors That Encourage Walking Among Individuals written by Mohammad Rajaullah and published by Grin Publishing. This book was released on 2017-07-13 with total page 16 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scientific Essay from the year 2017 in the subject Urban and Regional Planning, language: English, abstract: There has been a lot of research on the relationship between the built environment and walking activity; however numerous studies have created uncertain or conflicting results. In this research the aim is to look into the association of the built environment with walking activity by examining its impact in cities characterised by high-density development and a well-equipped public transportation system. The results show that neighbourhoods with a relatively higher land-use mix and relatively greater access to public transportation have a significantly positive association with walking activity for destinations that are within a 500 m radius of residences. However, no positive association was found between development density by land use and walking activity. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the relationship between the built environment and walking activity differs by neighbourhood scale and the urban built environment in terms of density and public transportation and walking attitudes of people across countries.

Download or read book Drawdown written by Paul Hawken and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2017-04-18 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: • New York Times bestseller • The 100 most substantive solutions to reverse global warming, based on meticulous research by leading scientists and policymakers around the world “At this point in time, the Drawdown book is exactly what is needed; a credible, conservative solution-by-solution narrative that we can do it. Reading it is an effective inoculation against the widespread perception of doom that humanity cannot and will not solve the climate crisis. Reported by-effects include increased determination and a sense of grounded hope.” —Per Espen Stoknes, Author, What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming “There’s been no real way for ordinary people to get an understanding of what they can do and what impact it can have. There remains no single, comprehensive, reliable compendium of carbon-reduction solutions across sectors. At least until now. . . . The public is hungry for this kind of practical wisdom.” —David Roberts, Vox “This is the ideal environmental sciences textbook—only it is too interesting and inspiring to be called a textbook.” —Peter Kareiva, Director of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA In the face of widespread fear and apathy, an international coalition of researchers, professionals, and scientists have come together to offer a set of realistic and bold solutions to climate change. One hundred techniques and practices are described here—some are well known; some you may have never heard of. They range from clean energy to educating girls in lower-income countries to land use practices that pull carbon out of the air. The solutions exist, are economically viable, and communities throughout the world are currently enacting them with skill and determination. If deployed collectively on a global scale over the next thirty years, they represent a credible path forward, not just to slow the earth’s warming but to reach drawdown, that point in time when greenhouse gases in the atmosphere peak and begin to decline. These measures promise cascading benefits to human health, security, prosperity, and well-being—giving us every reason to see this planetary crisis as an opportunity to create a just and livable world.

Download or read book Ageing in Society written by John Bond and published by SAGE. This book was released on 2007-02-22 with total page 379 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: `Ageing in Society brings forth exciting new questions, fresh perspectives, and a necessary critical approach to key issues - this is indeed an authoritative introduction. The authors not only have made significant contributions to gerontology, but offer the reader considerations for what could be, not just what is, the design of old age in society. The book will inform students in ways that so many texts in the area, satisfied with comfortable bromides, do not′ - Jaber Gubrium, Editor of Journal of Aging Studies, University of Missouri-Columbia `This completely revised Third Edition of Ageing in Society presents one of the most comprehensive pictures of ageing today. Emphasising the dual processes of ageing societies and the experience of ageing, the book offers the reader - student or researcher alike - cogent discussions of the most up to date perspectives and evidence available. The contributors are all leading experts in their fields - comprising a range of important disciplines as they apply to ageing. Ageing in Society is a cutting edge text on one of the most important subjects facing the modern world - a must for all students of ageing′ - Mike Bury, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of London `The Third Edition of the comprehensive textbook Ageing in Society extends its scope to include continental Europe, allowing broader as well as deeper insights into recent trends in gerontology. Gerontologists and practitioners are urged not to stop reading before they have reached the insightful last chapter "Ageing into the future"!′ - Professor Dorly Deeg, Editor-in-Chief European Journal of Ageing The Third Edition of this popular and widely-used text provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of ageing, exploring the key theories, concepts and methods which the behavioural and social sciences contribute to the subject. Thoroughly revised and updated, Ageing in Society reflects new trends in gerontology, incorporating recent developments in theory and research as well as major international and interdisciplinary perspectives. A new chapter on cognitive ageing has been added and key themes, such as social protection, retirement, health and illness, and cultural images of old age are also critically examined. Ageing in Society was developed by the British Society of Gerontology to fulfil the need for an authoritative introduction to social gerontology. As such, it is an ideal resource for students and lecturers in the social and behavioural sciences, as well as for students and practitioners in health and social care.

Download or read book Pedestrians Urban Spaces and Health written by Maurizio Tira and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2020-08-31 with total page 279 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Today, citizens advocate greater environmental sustainability, better services and the improvement of urban quality by promoting safer mobility and health. Addressing these issues, Pedestrians, Urban spaces and Health contains the papers presented at the XXIV International Conference "Living and Walking in Cities" (Brescia, Italy, 12-13 September 2019). The contributions discuss town planning issues, look at best practices and research findings across the broad spectrum of urban and transport planning, with particular attention to the safety of pedestrians in the city. The main topics of the book are: Walking experiences Urban spaces and Redevelopment Healthy cities (as Urban resilience and for Weakest users) Pedestrians, Urban spaces and Health is a powerful plea for a multi-disciplinary and comprehensive approach to urban mobility and planning, and will be of interest to academics, consultants and practitioners interested in these areas.

Download or read book Does the Built Environment Influence Physical Activity written by Transportation Research Board and published by Transportation Research Board. This book was released on 2005-01-11 with total page 269 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: TRB Special Report 282: Does the Built Environment Influence Physical Activity? Examining the Evidence reviews the broad trends affecting the relationships among physical activity, health, transportation, and land use; summarizes what is known about these relationships, including the strength and magnitude of any causal connections; examines implications for policy; and recommends priorities for future research.

Download or read book Reversing the Obesogenic Enviroment written by Rebecca E. Lee and published by Human Kinetics. This book was released on 2011-03-02 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Obesity has become a global crisis. Although most would agree that eating better and being more physically active are the answer to the problem, researchers have recently become aware that the problem goes beyond just changing individual behaviors. We can convince people of the benefits of healthful eating and regular physical activity, but what happens when they go home to a neighborhood where fresh vegetables are not available and opportunities for physical activity are hard to find? If the environment doesn’t help support healthy lifestyles, the change will be next to impossible to sustain. In Reversing the Obesogenic Environment, leading researchers Lee, McAlexander, and Banda introduce the concept of the obesogenic environment—an environment that leads people to become obese—and explore ways that changing our environment can encourage healthier choices. Although most of the current literature focuses on the food supply and dietary habits, Reversing the ObesogenicEnvironment takes a broader view of the current obesity problem. It looks at all of the elements that combine to create the obesogenic environment: •The ways that the built environment, access to resources, and active transportation systems can either foster or discourage regular physical activity •The multiple factors that encourage consumption of calorie-laden, nutritionally inadequate foods that can lead to obesity •The positive and negative impact of public policy •The influence of family, culture, socioeconomic status, and other social factors on an individual’s health behaviors as well as access to physical activity opportunities and healthier food options •The role that media and marketing play in food purchasing decisions With Reversing the Obesogenic Environment, readers will get a cutting-edge view of this emerging body of research with applications that can be realistically implemented in their communities. The book goes beyond defining the issues that contribute to the obesity epidemic—it offers tools that will help practitioners start to reverse it. Throughout the book, the authors incorporate practical recommendations based on the latest research. Sample programs and policies, checklists, and potential solutions offer readers a starting point for changes in their own communities. The obesity epidemic is a multifaceted issue influenced by factors ranging from international trade and national policy to individual behaviors. Reversing the problem will take coordinated multilevel efforts. These efforts may take years to come to fruition, but it isn’t too late to take action. Reversing the Obesogenic Environment is the ideal guide to taking the first steps toward change. Reversing the Obesogenic Environment is part of the Physical Activity Intervention Series (PAIS). This timely series provides educational resources for professionals interested in promoting and implementing physical activity and health promotion programs to a diverse and often-resistant population.

Download or read book Constructing an Objective Index of Walkability written by Neil Terence Coffee and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The aim of this project was to build an objective walkability index based upon the physical environmental factors identified from the research and apply this to Adelaide, a large urban city in Australia using geographic information systems (GIS). Specificaly this study was built on the work from the US (Frank .... [et al.]) in delimiting cities into walk friendly or unfriendly, adapted to Australian data to provide the basis for an index that can be applied to Australian cities to highlight the variations across cities and between cities. -- p. vii.

Download or read book The City at Eye Level written by Meredith Glaser and published by Eburon Uitgeverij B.V.. This book was released on 2012 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although rarely explored in academic literature, most inhabitants and visitors interact with an urban landscape on a day-to-day basis is on the street level. Storefronts, first floor apartments, and sidewalks are the most immediate and common experience of a city. These "plinths" are the ground floors that negotiate between inside and outside, the public and private spheres. The City at Eye Level qualitatively evaluates plinths by exploring specific examples from all over the world. Over twenty-five experts investigate the design, land use, and road and foot traffic in rigorously researched essays, case studies, and interviews. These pieces are supplemented by over two hundred beautiful color images and engage not only with issues in design, but also the concerns of urban communities. The editors have put together a comprehensive guide for anyone concerned with improving or building plinths, including planners, building owners, property and shop managers, designers, and architects.

Download or read book Walkable Neighborhoods written by Koichiro Oka and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2020-01-09 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is now widely recognized that individual-based motivational interventions alone are not sufficient to address the global pandemic of physical inactivity (lack of exercise and too much sitting time). There has been a growing interest in the effect the physically built environment can have on people’s active behaviors. The fundamental assumption is that surrounding physical environments can support active behaviors among a large number of people with long-term effects. This topic has received much attention over the last decade, mainly in the three fields of urban design, public health, and transportation. This Special Issue aims to provide multidisciplinary and evidence-based state-of-the-art research on how the locations where people live impact their active behaviors and health outcomes.

Download or read book Research Handbook on Urban Design written by Marion Roberts and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2024-01-18 with total page 433 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With the UN-Habitat estimating that by 2035 the majority of the world’s population will be living in metropolitan areas, this cutting-edge Research Handbook explores the emerging field of urban design and its place in contemporary scholarship.

Download or read book Humanizing Cities Through Car free City Development and Transformation written by Rahma M. Doheim and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This book explores the concepts of car-free cities and city humanization as possible solutions to reduce the deteriorating effect on the environment and the community. The publication discusses the urban initiative to implement pedestrianization and humanization of cities and public spaces to promote the concept of car-free living"--