48 research outputs found
Does home neighbourhood supportiveness influence the location more than volume of adolescent's physical activity? An observational study using Global Positioning Systems
Background: Environmental characteristics of home neighbourhoods are hypothesised to be associated with residents’ physical activity levels, yet many studies report only weak or equivocal associations. We theorise that this may be because neighbourhood characteristics influence the location of activity more than the volume. Using a sample of UK adolescents, we examine the role of home neighbourhood supportiveness for physical activity, both in terms of volume of activity undertaken and a measure of proximity to home at which activity takes place. Methods: Data were analysed from 967 adolescents living in and around the city of Bristol, UK. Each participant wore an accelerometer and a GPS device for seven days during school term time. These data were integrated into a Geographical Information System containing information on the participants’ home neighbourhoods and measures of environmental supportiveness. We then identified the amount of out-of-school activity of different intensities that adolescents undertook inside their home neighbourhood and examined how this related to home neighbourhood supportiveness. Results: We found that living in a less supportive neighbourhood did not negatively impact the volume of physical activity that adolescents undertook. Indeed these participants recorded similar amounts of activity (e.g. 20.5 mins per day of moderate activity at weekends) as those in more supportive neighbourhoods (18.6 mins per day). However, the amount of activity adolescents undertook inside their home neighbourhood did differ according to supportiveness; those living in less supportive locations had lower odds of recording activity inside their home neighbourhood. This was observed across all intensities of activity including sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the supportiveness of the neighbourhood around home may have a greater influence on the location of physical activity than the volume undertaken. This finding is at odds with the premise of the socio-ecological models of physical activity that have driven this research field for the last two decades, and has implications for future research, as by simply measuring volumes of activity we may be underestimating the impact of the environment on physical activity behaviours
Erosion consequences on beach functions along the Maresme coast (NW Mediterranean, Spain)
A methodology to analyse the influence of erosion on beach functions at a regional scale is presented. The method considers erosion hazards at different timescales and assesses consequences by evaluating impacts on recreation and protection functions. To provide useful information to decision makers for managing these functions, hazard and consequences are integrated at the municipal level within a risk matrix. This methodology is applied at the Maresme, a 45-km sandy coast situated northward of Barcelona, which supports a strong urban and infrastructure development as well as an intensive beach recreational use. Obtained results indicate differentiated erosion implications along the region, depending on the management target considered. Thus, southern municipalities are more prone to erosion affecting the protection function of the beach and leisure use by the local population, whereas erosion will have a greater effect on foreign tourism in the northern municipalities. These results highlight the necessity to employ an articulated erosion risk assessment focusing on specific targets depending on the site in question. This methodology can help coastal managers to adopt tailored measures to manage erosion impacts towards specific goals, in a more efficient and sustainable manner
Uniendo ingeniería y ecología: la protección costera basada en ecosistemas
En un contexto de crecientes impactos y riesgos socio-económicos en las costas del planeta, la
protección costera basada en ecosistemas surge como un nuevo paradigma que une los principios
de protección, sostenibilidad y resiliencia, a la vez que proporciona múltiples beneficios. Este
artículo ofrece una perspectiva sobre qué son y cómo se pueden utilizar las defensas naturales en
el diseño, planificación y gestión de costas. La política pública muestra un creciente interés por su
implementación general y el cuerpo de conocimiento y experiencia alrededor de la también
denominada infraestructura ?verde? es creciente, pero aún existen importantes barreras que
salvar. Una de ellas es estandarizar su diseño en términos ingenieriles, así como reconocer los
aspectos que los diferencian respecto a enfoques tradicionales. La adaptación climática y la
reducción de riesgos son áreas en las que su utilización puede ser más significativa, debido a
la variedad de servicios que ofrecen. Tanto desde el punto de vista técnico como económico,
existen argumentos sólidos para evitar la degradación de los ecosistemas, avanzando su
restauración y conservación, como también desde la perspectiva de la defensa de las costas.In a context of increasing socio-economic impacts and risks in the coastal areas of the planet,
coastal protection based on ecosystem features becomes a new paradigm that combines the
principles of conservation, sustainability and resilience, while providing multiple benefits. This
paper provides a perspective on what these are and how they can be used in the design,
planning and management of the coastal zones. Policy-makers are calling for further uptake
and implementation across the board and the body of knowledge and experience around the socalled
?green? infrastructure is growing, but there are still major barriers for a widespread uptake.
One of them is to standardize designs in engineering terms, recognizing the different characteristics
compared to traditional engineering solutions. Climate adaptation and risk reduction are
areas where its use may be more significant, for the variety of services they offer. Both technically
and economically, there are strong arguments to prevent degradation of ecosystems and to
advance in their restoration and conservation, as well as from a coastal defense perspective
International comparison of observation-specific spatial buffers: maximizing the ability to estimate physical activity
A Framework for Disaster Vulnerability in a Small Island in the Southwest Pacific: A Case Study of Emae Island, Vanuatu
The neighbourhood physical environment and active travel in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Assessment of social vulnerability to natural disasters: a comparative study
The purpose of this study is to examine and compare the methodologies being developed in assessing social vulnerability to natural disasters. Existing vulnerability literature shows that two methods have been used in developing social vulnerability indexes: (1) a deductive approach based on a theoretical understanding of relationships and (2) an inductive approach based on statistical relationships (Adger et al. in New indicators of vulnerability and adaptive capacity. Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, Norwich, 2004). Two techniques were also utilized in aggregating social vulnerability indicators: (1) a deductive approach using standardization techniques such as z scores or linear scaling (Wu et al. in Clim Res 22:255-270, 2002; Chakraborty et al. in Nat Hazards Rev 6(1):23-33, 2005) and (2) an inductive approach using data-reduction techniques such as factor analysis (Clark et al. in Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change 3(1):59-82, 1998; Cutter et al. Soc Sci Quart 84(2):242-261, 2003). This study empirically compares deductive and inductive index development and indicator aggregation methods in assessing social vulnerability to natural disasters in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coastal areas. The aggregated social vulnerability index is used to examine a relationship with disaster losses in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coastal areas. The results show that coastal counties with more vulnerability in terms of social achieved status are positively associated with disaster damages, while variations in the development of the index using deductive and inductive measurement approaches produce different outcomes.close6