Monitoring the impact of urban form changes on well-being and inequality: the INTERACT Method

Current investments in urban infrastructures - often aligned with sustainability objectives - represent a unique opportunity to assess impacts of urban changes on mental health and related inequalities. Few natural experiment studies have assessed impacts on population well-being, yet, mobile technologies and the ubiquity of smartphones facilitate the use of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) methods to assess contextualised variations in affect and mood.

In line with Jane Jacobs’ view that cities are ideal laboratories, the INTErventions, Research, and Action in Cities Team (INTERACT) is conducting longitudinal, mixed-methods natural experiment studies on major urban form interventions in four Canadian cities. This presentation describes the methodology developed for INTERACT, tracking urban changes and population health through online and mobile tools able to provide rich data on people’s activity spaces, behaviour, and well-being.

Rancourt G, Winters M, Fuller D, Bell S, Berscheid J, Brondeel R, Cantinotti M, Datta G, Gough M, Laberee K, Lewis P, Lord S, McKay H, Morency C, Muhajarine N, Nelson T, Ottoni C, Poirier Stephens Z, Pugh C, Shareck M, Sims-Gould J, Sones M, Stanley K, Thierry B, Wasfi R, Kestens Y. Monitoring the impact of urban form changes on well-being and inequality: the INTERACT Method. Poster presentation at: American Public Health Association Conference; November 2018; San Diego, CA.

Transcript

1. INTERACT INTERVENTIONS, RESEARCH, AND ACTION IN CITIES TEAM Monitoring the Impact of Urban Form Changes on Well-Being and Equity: The INTERACT Method G. Rancourt1, M. Winters2, D. Fuller3, G. Moullec1 , S. Bell4, J. Berscheid4 , R. Brondeel1, M. Cantinotti5, G. Datta1, M. Gough4, K. Laberee2, P. Lewis1, S. Lord1, H. McKay6, C. Morency7, N. Muhajarine4, T. Nelson8, C. Ottoni6, Z. Poirier Stephens1,C. Pugh2, M. Shareck9, J. Sims-Gould6, M. Sones2, K. Stanley4, B. Thierry1, R. Wasfi1,Y. Kestens1. 1 Université de Montréal, Canada, 2 Simon Fraser University, Canada 3 Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, 4 University of Saskatchewan, Canada, 5 Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada, 6 University of British Columbia, Canada, 7 Polytechnique Montréal, Canada, 8 Arizona State University, United States, 9 University of Toronto, Canada The INTERACT Toolkit is intended to be transferable to other study sites while remaining flexible enough to be adapted to local needs. Currently, INTERACT methodology is being applied to: UNDERSTAND CONTEXT MEASURE CHANGE IN URBAN FORM TRACK POPULATION HEALTH & WELL-BEING LINK URBAN FORM CHANGES TO HEALTH AND INEQUALITIES MOBILIZE KNOWLEDGE INTERACT works with various stakeholders generating evidence and building tools to document impacts of urban form changes and inform future decisions for healthier cities. Various modeling methods explore relations between urban form change, mobility, and health inequalities. A longitudinal cohort is set up in each city with 3 data collection time points. Concept mapping captures stakeholders’ perceptions of local context. Temporal GIS allows to track urban form changes. Continuous implementation of urban form change T 0 T 1 T 2 Interested in using INTERACT tools or joining the team as a student? VISIT WWW.TEAMINTERACT.CA Concept Mapping Online concept mapping tool to determine and prioritize the factors that influence the implementation and impact of urban form changes. VERITAS-Interventions Online map-based survey documenting changes to urban form and related actor networks. COHORT 300-3,000 participants per site Health Survey Online self- reported health and eudaimonic well- being questionnaire VERITAS Survey Online questionnaire combining spatial and social data. Qualitative interviews One-on-one and go-along interviews with targeted subpopulation Mobile app (Ethica) 30 day tracking of accelerometry, GPS, and 7 day EMA of hedonic well-being Wearable Sensor (SenseDoc) 10 day tracking of accelerometry and GPS OPTIONAL 1 2 3 4 5 Mobility Activity locations Trips Transportation mode Socio-economic and gender inequities Urban form Well-being Health outcomes Social participation Physical activity GPS + SURVEYS VERITAS TEMPORAL GIS ACCELER- OMETRY VERITAS EMA + SURVEYS MONTREAL Montreal Community 2016-2020 sustainability plan VICTORIA All Ages and Abilities (AAA) Cycling Network SASKATOON Bus Rapid Transit VANCOUVER Arbutus Greenway INTERACT offers a comprehensive toolkit to understand impacts of urban form changes on health and well-being. In partnership with cities and citizens, we harness big data to deliver timely public health intelligence on the influence of real world urban form changes on physical activity, social participation, well-being, and social inequalities—generating local evidence and action to advance the design of smart, sustainable, and healthier cities for all. WELL-BEING MEASUREMENT EUDAIMONIC HEDONIC Dimensions Life Satisfaction Psychological Well-being Social Well-being Valence Calmness Energetic Arousal Tools Online questionnaires Binary items to answer the prompt: “At this moment, I feel…” -Well/Unwell -Relaxed/Tense -Tired/Awake -Content/Discontent -Agitated/Calm -Full of energy/without energy Methodology Self-administered Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to measure intra daily levels of well-being, 7 consecutive days, 3 times a day CHANGES IN URBAN FORM THAT COULD HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON WELL-BEING Greening program1 Place making1 Public open space2 Transportation infrastructure3 Traffic calming measure3 1 H. Barton & al.,(2015). The Routledge Handbook of Planning for Health and Well-Being. 2 Y. Rydin et al., (2012) “Shaping cities for health: Complexity and the planning of urban environments in the 21st century,” Lancet. 3 H. F. Guite & al., (2006). “The impact of the physical and urban environment on mental well-being,” Public Health.