Stair versus elevator use in a university residence hall setting

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Urban Planning

Background:

• Promoting physical activity is crucial for public health.
• Understanding built environment influences on behavior is key for effective interventions.
• University residence halls offer unique opportunities to study daily physical activity patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the temporal and spatial patterns of stair versus elevator usage.
• To identify optimal times and locations for physical activity promotion in a university residence hall.

Main Methods:

• Smart mat systems monitored pedestrian traffic at stairwells and elevators.
• Data was collected across all floors, including a basement, of a four-story dormitory.
• Generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) analyzed usage variations by time and floor.

Main Results:

• Stair usage showed greater temporal variation on lower floors, peaking in the morning.
• Elevator usage was more frequent on higher floors with less daily fluctuation.
• Usage patterns differed significantly based on proximity to the ground floor.

Conclusions:

• Targeting higher floors and morning hours can maximize the impact of stair promotion interventions.
• Interventions should consider the influence of building design on physical activity choices.
• Data-driven insights can optimize strategies for increasing physical activity in residential settings.