Development of smart inner city recreational facilities to encourage active living

Lowfield Park in Sheffield, UK is a green recreational space main-tained by the City Council. Lowfield Park was selected as the primary Sheffield FieldLab for the ProFit project which ended in 2015. The ProFit project was European Interreg IVbNWE funded with the aim of encouraging physical activ-ity through innovations in products, services and ICT systems. In 2014 the Sheffield Hallam University City Athletics Stadium (SHUCAS) was introduced as a secondary FieldLab. A number of innovative systems have been installed into the FieldLabs, these include: Pan Tilt Zoom cameras, automatically timed sprint and running tracks, outdoor displays/touchscreen and a gait analyser. This paper describes the hardware, software and cloud infrastructure created to enable these systems. Pilot testing has been carried out over the last year and has found a positive effect on both sites. The systems created will be taken for-ward to Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Park, which is currently under develop-ment

Transportation for an Aging Population: Promoting Mobility and Equity for Low-Income Seniors

This study explores the travel patterns, needs, and mobility problems faced by diverse low-income, inner-city older adults in Los Angeles in order to identify solutions to their mobility challenges. The study draws information from: (1) a systematic literature review of the travel patterns of older adults; (2) a review of municipal policies and services geared toward older adult mobility in six cities; (3) a quantitative analysis of the mobility patterns of older adults in California using the California Household Travel Survey; and (4) empirical work with 81 older adults residing in and around Los Angeles’ inner-city Westlake neighborhood, who participated in focus groups, interviews, and walkabouts around their neighborhood

Modelling the relationship between urban form and social sustainability in Malaysian cities : access to local services and public facilities

This research concerned to establish the relationship between urban form and social sustainabilityin two Malaysian cities. Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya are the two cities selected purposely as the case study cities because of their distinctive characteristics. Specifically, this research looks in detail at the aspect of access to local services and facilities according to different aspects of urban form, such as density, building/ housing type, land use mix and layout. Urban form elements such as mixed land use and density appear to have significant impact on access and usage pattern of certain local services and facilities located within the case study cities (Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya). Another important factor towards higher access to services and facilities within the neighbourhood is the respondents‘ perceptions of mobility. Aspects of safety also impact on the access and usage pattern of the respondents towards the services and local facilities within their local neighbourhood. However, satisfaction towards the neighbourhood does not influence the access or usage pattern of the local services and facilities. The research provides one of the first attempts to investigate the relationship between urban form and its impact upon social sustainability in Malaysian cities., It exposes local issues and problems related to the access and usage of local services and facilities within residential neighbourhoods which corresponds with issues highlighted in the National Urbanisation Policy (NUP) (Federal Department of Town and Country Planning Peninsular Malaysia, 2006). Findings suggest that local planning authorities should ensure that residential neighbourhood/ developments are well connected to local services and facilities – by improving public transport & pedestrian networks. It is also important that neighbourhood safety is properly addressed

Healthy built environments: A review of the literature

The Healthy Built Environments Program has completed a major scholarly literature review examining the role of the built environment in supporting human health as part of everyday living. The principal aim of the Review is to establish an evidence base that supports the development, prioritisation and implementation of healthy built environment policies and practices. The Review identifies current gaps in the evidence to inform future research directions. It includes an annotated bibliography of key research articles and a glossary of terms to assist practitioners, policy makers and researchers working in this interdisciplinary realm.  The focus of the Review is on the three key built environment domains that support human health: The Built Environment and Getting People Active. The Built Environment and Connecting and Strengthening Communities. The Built Environment and Providing Healthy Food Options. These built environment domains address three of the major risk factors for contemporary chronic disease - physical inactivity, social isolation and obesity. The Literature Review is available for download as the whole document or its individual sections. Whole document (12MB) Cover and Acknowledgements (1.11MB)List of Abbreviations and Contents (2.11MB)The Healthy Built Environments Program Overview (291KB)Executive Summary (295KB)1.0 Introduction (255KB)2.0 Structure of this Review (2.46MB)3.0 Aims and Parameters (2.99MB)4.0 Scope and Methodology (3.20MB)5.0 The Evidence (200KB)5.1 The Built Environment and Getting People Active (653KB)5.2 The Built Environment and Connecting and Strengthening Communities (546KB)5.3 The Built Environment and Providing Healthy Food Options (416KB)6.0 Professional Development (284KB)7.0 Conclusion (114KB)References (490KB)Appendix 1: Diary of Database Searches (202KB)Appendix 2: Glossary (282KB)Appendix 3: Annotated Bibliography (2.57MB

Blueprint Buffalo Action Plan: Regional Strategies for Reclaiming Vacant Properties in the City and Suburbs of Buffalo

Over a period of about nine months, the NVPC team conducted interviews and gathered insights that have resulted in this report. During the study period, Buffalo–Niagara emerged as a region broadly challenged by decades of disinvestment and population loss, but also as a close network of communities singularly blessed with a wealth of historic, transit-friendly, and affordable neighborhoods and commercial areas. Building on the City of Buffalo’s “asset management” strategy first proposed in 2004 by the Cornell Cooperative Extension Association—and now formally adopted by the Buffalo Common Council as part of its comprehensive 20-year plan for the city—the NVPC team sought to reexamine how the revitalization of Buffalo’s vacant properties could actually serve as a catalyst to address the region’s other most pressing problems: population loss, a weak real estate market in the inner city, signs of incipient economic instability in older suburbs, quality-of-life issues, school quality, and suburban sprawl

Community Design for Healthy Eating: How Land Use and Transportation Solutions Can Help

Examines how the built environment -- land use and lack of grocery stores, poor transportation systems, and sprawling development -- limits access to healthy foods in low-income, inner-city neighborhoods. Profiles efforts to improve food access

State of Play in Western New York: Analysis and Recommendations

This report offers an independent assessment of the state of play for kids and sports in the eight-county region comprising Western New York-Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties. It is anchored in the notion that all stakeholders will benefit if all children in the region, regardless of zip code or ability, are provided access to a quality sport experience. The Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program research team produced this State of Play report, analyzing sport programs and facilities in the region through the eight strategic filters ( plays ) highlighted in the Aspen Institute\u27s seminal 2015 report, Sport for All, Play for Life: A Playbook to Get Every Kid in the Game. Supporting Aspen were the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, and a task force consisting of youth sport and other leaders from across the regio

Action Strategies Toolkit: A Guide for Local and State Leaders Working to Create Healthy Communities and Prevent Childhood Obesity

Illustrates how policy makers can promote physical activity and healthy eating through decisions on budgets, laws, regulations, and zoning. Outlines targeted strategies, policy and program options, implementation processes, resources, and examples