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INTRODUCTION: Built and natural environments may provide opportunities for physical activity. However, studies are limited by primarily using residential addresses to define exposure and self-report to measure physical activity. We quantified associations between global positioning systems (GPS)-based activity space measures of environmental exposure and accelerometer-based physical activity. METHODS: Using a nationwide sample of working female adults (N = 354), we obtained seven days of GPS and accelerometry data. We created Daily Path Area activity spaces using GPS data and linked these activity spaces to spatial datasets on walkability (EPA Smart Location Database at the Census block group level) and greenness (satellite vegetation at 250 m resolution). We utilized generalized additive models to examine nonlinear associations between activity space exposures and accelerometer-derived physical activity outcomes adjusted for demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and self-rated health. RESULTS: Higher activity space walkability was associated with higher levels of moderate-vigorous physical activity, and higher activity space greenness was associated with greater numbers of steps per week. No strong relationships were observed for sedentary behavior or light physical activity. Highest levels of moderate-vigorous physical activity were observed for participants with both high walkability and high greenness in their activity spaces. CONCLUSION: This study contributes evidence that higher levels of physical activity occur in environments with more dense, diverse, and well-connected built environments, and with higher amounts of vegetation. These data suggest that urban planners, landscape architects, and policy makers should implement and evaluate environmental interventions to encourage higher levels of physical activity.

Previous studies have identified vital urban spaces through the concentration of people, the diversity of land uses and buildings, accessibility, and the existence of a compact urban fabric. However, the relationship between urban vitality and social sustainability has not been studied in these terms. This paper seeks to analyse the social implications of the vital city model for residents in the context of a Latin American city: Santiago de Chile. To do so, we use the JANE index to measure the formal conditions of the built environment for urban vitality, and the Longitudinal Social Study of Chile to measure urban social sustainability. We first use a PCA technique to reveal six core components of urban social sustainability: Sense of belonging, Safety, Sociability, Well-being, Satisfaction with housing, and Conservation of the neighbourhood. We then test the associations between the strength of these six core components and the conditions for urban vitality by means of a multiple linear regression model. Significant associations between urban vitality conditions and urban social sustainability suggest that socially sustainable neighbourhoods are found in sectors with the presence of old buildings, accessibility to public transportation, and far from mega infrastructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The built environment plays a key role in everyday wellbeing, as well-designed and accessible environments help fulfil people's daily needs and activities. Of special relevance is the urban vitality concept of Jane Jacobs, a core principle of local planning strategies worldwide, which is used as an indicator of street vibrancy and quality of life among city residents. However, the promotion of her ideas on dense, lively, and diverse neighbourhoods coexists with increasing urban inequalities. The present study aims to examine if, and how, vital places are related with different levels of social vulnerability. To do so, we use Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) of synthetic indicators of both vitality and vulnerability. Our results provide evidence of local associations between urban vitality and urban vulnerability, and identify four main scenarios that can be helpful for policy intervention. The findings of this study have the potential to guide urban planning strategies to promote vital environments while preventing situations of social vulnerability. We identify four scenarios for policy based on the relationship between vitality and vulnerability. Scenario-specific policies should be designed to address vitality with equity lens. In Low vitality – High vulnerability areas need to ameliorate physical infrastructure for vitality while also developing social policies. In High vitality – High vulnerability areas, policies should prevent residents' displacement. In High vitality – Low vulnerability areas, policies should promote diversity of residents. In Low vitality – Low vulnerability areas, policies should promote dense and diverse developments in terms of uses and population while promoting car-free mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversity in retail and facilities is essential for creating proximity environments. Most analyses have focused on either built environment predictors or the balance between diversity and social vulnerability and tourism, but little is known of their interrelationship. Using georeferenced data of retail and facilities in Barcelona (Spain), the study shows that diversity is positively associated with compact and dense environments, but negatively related to social vulnerability and tourist accommodation. Five clusters were studied based on retail diversity, urban vulnerability, and tourist intensity. Some areas may be endangered by the overrepresentation of specific activities. These insights can inform activity diversification policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]