A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Increased nationwide use of green spaces in Norway during the COVID-19 pandemic
Graphical abstract Display Omitted
Highlights We examined the impact of the pandemic on nationwide recreational green space use. We used aggregated cellphone mobility data from 14,331 geographical grids in Norway. Mobility time series data were combined with registry data and remote sensing data. Recreational visits to green spaces increased by 9.4% during the pandemic. Recreational visits to green spaces in low SES neighborhoods increased by 18.1%.
Abstract In recent years, there has been growing concern about the decline in human green space use and nature-based recreation in Western countries. While some evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased recreational mobility in urban green spaces, it is unclear whether the pandemic led to nationwide changes in green space use in both densely and less densely populated neighborhoods, as well as whether social inequalities in green space use were reinforced or attenuated by the pandemic. To address these questions, we used daily nationwide aggregated mobility data from more than 2 million cell phone subscribers in 14,331 geographical grids across Norway to examine potential changes in mobility in green spaces as measured by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) during the pandemic. Additionally, we controlled for weather conditions, holiday periods, and neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics. The results from linear mixed model analyses showed a 9.4% increase in recreational visits in the greenest spaces during the pandemic. Notably, this increase was most prominent in neighborhoods of low socioeconomic status (SES) and was observed in both high- and low-population density neighborhoods, although the increase was somewhat stronger in neighborhoods with low population density. Our study findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has played a role in increasing nationwide green space use in Norway and potentially narrowing the gap of green inequalities, thus highlighting the importance of preserving and promoting green spaces as a public health resource, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Increased nationwide use of green spaces in Norway during the COVID-19 pandemic
Graphical abstract Display Omitted
Highlights We examined the impact of the pandemic on nationwide recreational green space use. We used aggregated cellphone mobility data from 14,331 geographical grids in Norway. Mobility time series data were combined with registry data and remote sensing data. Recreational visits to green spaces increased by 9.4% during the pandemic. Recreational visits to green spaces in low SES neighborhoods increased by 18.1%.
Abstract In recent years, there has been growing concern about the decline in human green space use and nature-based recreation in Western countries. While some evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased recreational mobility in urban green spaces, it is unclear whether the pandemic led to nationwide changes in green space use in both densely and less densely populated neighborhoods, as well as whether social inequalities in green space use were reinforced or attenuated by the pandemic. To address these questions, we used daily nationwide aggregated mobility data from more than 2 million cell phone subscribers in 14,331 geographical grids across Norway to examine potential changes in mobility in green spaces as measured by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) during the pandemic. Additionally, we controlled for weather conditions, holiday periods, and neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics. The results from linear mixed model analyses showed a 9.4% increase in recreational visits in the greenest spaces during the pandemic. Notably, this increase was most prominent in neighborhoods of low socioeconomic status (SES) and was observed in both high- and low-population density neighborhoods, although the increase was somewhat stronger in neighborhoods with low population density. Our study findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has played a role in increasing nationwide green space use in Norway and potentially narrowing the gap of green inequalities, thus highlighting the importance of preserving and promoting green spaces as a public health resource, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Increased nationwide use of green spaces in Norway during the COVID-19 pandemic
Ulset, Vidar Sandsaunet (author) / Venter, Zander (author) / Kozák, Michal (author) / Nordbø, Emma Charlott Andersson (author) / von Soest, Tilmann (author)
2023-09-05
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Increased nationwide use of green spaces in Norway during the COVID-19 pandemic
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