Anne Matan

Two perspectives on public spaces

There has been much debate about definitions of public space – whether it is public or private, inside or outside, restrictive or free, democratic and inclusive, or otherwise. The everyday use of public space has been changing – from necessary uses to optional, recreational uses. This changing role increases the need for appropriate, well-designed places in which people choose to spend time, and that provide a place for people to relax, socialize and be part of urban life.

Health, Transport and Urban Planning: Quantifying the Links between Urban Assessment Models and Human Health

We developed two simple, effective and consistent methods for predicting human health outcomes from physical activity in a typical urban development at a precinct scale. Considering the two primary transport outputs from an urban assessment model (vehicle kilometres travelled and mode share), we developed two methods using approaches based on the literature linking human health outcomes and transport. The two methods were applied to a case study and generated very similar results, demonstrating how a human health outcome from physical activity rates can be incorporated into an urban planning model and become part of the assessment process for urban development.