Multi-scale Urban Built Environment and Human Health

In urban settings, the built environment encompasses a complex array of physical, social, economic, and environmental factors that interact to influence residents' health and well-being. In the realm of public health, understanding the intricate interplay between the urban built environment and human health is paramount. At the macro level, urban planning policies and development strategies profoundly shape the physical and social configuration of cities. Zoning regulations, transportation infrastructure, housing affordability, and land-use patterns exert significant influences on residents' health behaviors and outcomes over time. For instance, affordable housing, public transportation, and essential services can mitigate socioeconomic disparities and enhance overall well-being. Conversely, urban sprawl, inadequate infrastructure, and environmental degradation may exacerbate health inequities and contribute to chronic health conditions. The community environment also embodies plenty of critical determinants of individual health outcomes. Characteristics such as walkability, access to green spaces, availability of healthy food options, and social cohesion influence residents' opportunities for physical activity, social interaction, and access to healthcare services. Disparities in community resources and environmental hazards can perpetuate health inequities, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations such as low-income communities and minority groups. Understanding health determinants across multiple levels of the built environment can offer valuable insights into the multifaceted relationship between urbanization, built environment dynamics, and population health outcomes.

The multilevel perspective underscores the interconnectedness of urban systems and their collective influence on population health. By adopting a holistic approach that considers the complex interactions between individual, community, and citywide factors, researchers and practitioners can identify leverage points for promoting health equity, sustainability, and resilience in urban environments. The multilevel structure of the urban built environment provides a comprehensive perspective for understanding the health determinants, emphasizing the interplay between individual factors, social and community networks, living and working conditions, socioeconomic and cultural environments, and broader structural factors.

This research topic aims to provide a platform to deepen the understanding of how various levels of influence shape people’s health outcomes and health behaviors in cities while considering new theories, data, methods, and contexts. It is also critical to evaluate more comprehensive and multidimensional determinants as a collective when assessing related health outcomes.

We welcome submissions of Original Research articles, Review, and Mini-Review covering the following topics, but not limited to:

● Urban planning strategies for creating healthy, equitable, and sustainable cities.
● Community interventions to promote physical activity, social cohesion, and mental well-being.
● Innovative approaches to improving environmental quality and occupant health in the urban setting.
● Health impact assessment of urban development projects and policies.
● Community engagement and participatory methods for designing a healthy urban environment.
● Examination of the role of green infrastructure, affordable housing, urban land use, urban agriculture, and sustainable transportation in promoting population health and well-being.
● Spatial optimization of healthcare facilities, urban parks, and other health-promoting facilities.
● Exploration of innovative approaches to fostering collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and communities to address urban health challenges.