Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
07:21
Walk with Me Hybrid Virtual/In-Person Walking for Older Adults with Neurodegenerative Disease
Published on: June 16, 2023
A new urban planning code's impact on walking: the residential environments project
Hayley Christian1, Matthew Knuiman, Fiona Bull
1Centre for Built Environment and Health, School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia. hayley.christian@uwa.edu.au
American Journal of Public Health
|May 18, 2013
Summary
New housing developments designed for livable neighborhoods created more supportive environments but did not increase walking. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term impact of urban planning policies on physical activity.
Area of Science:
- Urban planning and public health
- Environmental psychology
- Built environment and physical activity
Background:
- State government livable neighborhoods subdivision codes aim to create supportive environments for physical activity.
- Understanding the impact of these codes on resident behavior is crucial for effective urban planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if residents of housing developments built to livable neighborhoods standards walk more than those in conventional developments.
- To assess the influence of the built environment and resident perceptions on walking behavior.
Main Methods:
- A natural experiment involving 1813 participants across 73 new housing developments in Perth, Western Australia.
- Pre- and post-relocation surveys (12 and 36 months) measuring self-reported walking (Neighborhood Physical Activity Questionnaire), environmental perceptions, and self-selection factors.
- Objective built environment measures using Geographic Information System (GIS).
Main Results:
- Livable developments exhibited superior street connectivity, residential density, land use mix, and destination accessibility compared to conventional developments (P < .05).
- Residents in livable developments reported more positive neighborhood perceptions (P < .05).
- No significant differences in walking behavior were observed between residents of livable and conventional developments over time (P > .05).
Conclusions:
- While the Livable Neighborhoods Guidelines successfully created more supportive built environments, the intervention intensity was insufficient to promote increased walking.
- Longer-term follow-up evaluations are essential to fully assess the impact of new urban planning policies on resident behavior.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Design Example: Sustainability in Concrete Building
As the construction industry moves towards more eco-friendly practices, concrete's adaptability and its ability to incorporate sustainable features make it a key material in the drive towards greener building solutions.
There are multiple approaches to achieve sustainability in a commercial concrete building. For instance, construct a concrete parking area under the building, utilizing pervious concrete paver blocks in open areas to facilitate rainwater collection through an underground cistern.
There are multiple approaches to achieve sustainability in a commercial concrete building. For instance, construct a concrete parking area under the building, utilizing pervious concrete paver blocks in open areas to facilitate rainwater collection through an underground cistern.
01:42Schemas
A schema is a mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts (Bartlett, 1932). There are many different types of schemata, and they all have one thing in common: schemata are a method of organizing information that allows the brain to work more efficiently. When a schema is activated, the brain makes immediate assumptions about the person or object being observed.
01:27Movement Joints in Buildings
Movement joints in buildings are essential design elements that accommodate inevitable motions caused by various factors such as temperature changes, moisture content variations, and structural deflections. These motions, if not considered in design and construction, can lead to unsightly or dangerous damage. Movement joints are incorporated in different forms to manage these stresses and allow materials to move without causing distress.
The simplest type of movement joints, working joints, are...
The simplest type of movement joints, working joints, are...
01:17Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment
Flood risk assessment involves careful planning and analysis to ensure the safety of communities near water retention structures. Capacity contours are a vital tool in this process, as they illustrate the potential spread of water at specific levels in a given area. In the context of building a bund across a small valley, these contours play a critical role in evaluating the safety of nearby residential areas.In this example, the bund is intended to store stormwater in the valley. The engineers...
02:31Habitat Fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation describes the division of a more extensive, continuous habitat into smaller, discontinuous areas. Human activities such as land conversion, as well as slower geological processes leading to changes in the physical environment, are the two leading causes of habitat fragmentation. The fragmentation process typically follows the same steps: perforation, dissection, fragmentation, shrinkage, and attrition.
01:21Impact of Social Context on Individuals
Social psychology examines how the real or imagined presence of others influences individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A key concept in this field is the role of social context in shaping behavior. The same individual may act differently depending on the social setting, due to the varying expectations and norms associated with each environment. This context-dependent behavior illustrates the influence of social roles, which prescribe appropriate conduct in specific situations.Social...