Conference Agenda
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Union1_3: Symposium: Integrated spatial and environmental health approaches to strengthen HEPA: Evidence and tools from Slovenia Location: Grand Hotel Union Session Chair: Vita Žlender | |
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Integrated spatial and environmental health approaches to strengthen HEPA: Evidence and tools from Slovenia Health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) largely takes place outdoors: in green spaces, along streets, in parks and within recreational infrastructure. The quality, accessibility and safety of green spaces, recreational infrastructure and environmental conditions are important for active lifestyles. As urbanisation intensifies and recreational habits change, outdoor spaces and environmental conditions face growing pressure, which challenges their capacity to remain accessible and equitable across population groups. Although the importance of built and natural environment for physical activity is widely recognised, decision-makers often lack integrated, context-specific evidence on provision, infrastructure gaps inequalities and practical tools to translate health objectives into spatial planning and investment priorities. This symposium addresses that gap by presenting complementary evidence and applied instruments from Slovenia that together inform effective HEPA policy action. The first contribution draws on a citizen science living lab that combines personal environmental exposure monitoring, experiential knowledge and participatory evaluation. It demonstrates how environmental conditions influence active mobility and how such data can inform healthier infrastructure planning. The second contribution provides population-level evidence through a national survey and municipal cases analysing recreational habits, infrastructure provision and perceived barriers, identifying mismatches between supply and demand, inequalities across age and gender groups, and strategic gaps in recreational investment. The third contribution translates research into a decision-support instrument by introducing a composite GIS-based indicator assessing settlement provision with green spaces for physical activity, enabling monitoring and integration of HEPA objectives into spatial planning. The fourth contribution presents evidence from the development of Local Walkability Plans that embed walking within sustainable mobility and public health policy, uncovering the importance of traffic measures and institutional collaboration to strengthen walkability. Together, the contributions highlight current trends and challenges and present practical tools to better integrate spatial planning and public health. The symposium will conclude with a commentary from a representative of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, reflecting on the policy relevance of the presented research and its potential to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration and institutionalise HEPA within spatial planning frameworks. The symposium is aligned and supported by activities of the Strategic Development Innovation Partnership Smart Cities and Communities (SRIP PMiS). Presentations of the Symposium Healthy Habitats Living Lab: Bike commuters' environmental health literacy and insights to promote healthier cycling environments in Ljubljana Background and aim: Cycling supports health and sustainability, yet spatial planning decisions shape cyclists’ exposure to air pollution, noise, and greenery. The Urban Cycling Lab in Ljubljana examined how a citizen science (CS) approach enhance environmental health literacy (EHL), influence route choice, and generate place-based knowledge for healthier urban planning. The study integrated ethnographic methods with personal exposure monitoring to connect cyclists’ experiential knowledge with spatial modelling and public health objectives. Methods: A two-week theory-driven CS intervention involved 205 bike commuters who monitored particulate matter (PM2.5) and noise using personal sensors. Participants accessed a digital platform to compare geo-coded exposure across routes. A mixed-methods design combined surveys (EHL), “ride-along” interviews (n=10) , and a participatory evaluation workshop (n=30). Qualitative data were transcribed, coded and thematically analysed to identify barriers, facilitators, and intervention opportunities. Results: Survey findings showed concern about air pollution but limited awareness of health risks and low uptake of protective behaviours. Qualitative analyses revealed experiential knowledge of green corridors, traffic density, and initiatives to enhance cycling. Participants preferred quieter, greener routes and proposed infrastructural and educational improvements. Engagement with personal data increased EHL, reshaped risk perception, and prompted selective route adaptations. Workshop discussions highlighted learning and influence strategies to enhance cycling practice. Conclusions: CS strengthen cyclists’ EHL, support behaviour change, and translate public health goals into spatially explicit planning recommendations for health-enhancing physical activity. Funding: Funded by the EU Horizon 2020 project URBANOME and HE ENVESOME Keywords: citizen science; environmental health literacy; cycling; spatial planning; air pollution Sport recreational facilities and habits in Slovenia Background and aim: The social changes of the last decades have influenced how people are active and which facilities they use. Methods: A national survey with adult population offered insight into recreational habits and facility use in Slovenia. The 26-question survey was disseminated via an online panel with 1,001 respondents from 173 municipalities. In addition, a case study approach investigated the situation in more depth in the municipalities of Ormož, Trbovlje and Nova Gorica. Within case studies, desk analysis and fieldwork assessed different recreational facilities, and focus groups provided additional data. Results: Major motives for sport recreation in Slovenia are health improvement, relaxation, and improving personal fitness. Common barriers include lack of time, low motivation and illness. Around 10% of respondents are inactive because of insufficient infrastructure near home. Surprisingly, most respondents are active at home, followed by the use of public areas and local facilities. In municipalities, approximately one third of facilities were built in the last 20 years, including bike parks and similar amenities. The analysis also revealed that municipalities do not necessary provide opportunities equally across age groups or genders. Conclusions: The research confirms that the ways in which people are active have changed, including the variety of recreational facilities. Greater public investment is needed in swimming pools, cycling paths, and outdoor fitness, and municipalities should provide a demand-based offer. Funding: Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency, national research project J7-4598 (October 2022 to September 2025). Keywords: sport recreation facilities, recreational habits, survey, Slovenia Provision with green spaces for physical activity: Developing local-level indicators Background and aim: Access to quality green spaces (GS) supports health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) and benefits population health, particularly in densely populated areas. However, many cities still lack reliable local indicators to assess their availability and suitability. This study identifies key aspects of GS that promote HEPA and explores methods to spatially map and represent settlement provision with such spaces. Methods: A multi-stage approach was applied, integrating GIS-based spatial analysis with stakeholder input to develop the composite indicator. It was tested in two case studies: Celje as urban, and Miklavž na Dravskem Polju as rural/peri-urban settlement type. The indicator incorporates key attributes, relevant for the provision with GS for ensuring HEPA: accessibility, size, quality, diversity of GS, attractiveness and safety, emphasizing their capacity to support HEPA across different population groups. Results: While local variations in accessibility and quality were identified within each area, no systematic difference emerged between the urban and rural context in terms of overall accessibility to GS for HEPA. The findings highlight the importance of context-sensitive improvements rather than settlement type alone. The study highlights the need to integrate GS planning into broader public health frameworks. Conclusions: The developed indicator provides a valuable tool for municipal governments seeking to enhance urban liveability and promote active lifestyles. Funding: Funded by the Slovenian Research Agency (projects V5–2232 and Z5–4589). Slovenian Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, and the Ministry of Health cofinanced V5–2232. Keywords: green space planning, composite indicator, Slovenia, cross-sectoral collaboration, case studies Community-based walkability planning: A model for embedding walking in sustainable mobility and public health policy Background and aim: Walking is the most universal and accessible mode of mobility and an important determinant of public health, social equity and cohesion. As a form of health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA), everyday walking contributes to disease prevention, mental wellbeing and healthier lifestyles. Despite these benefits, walking remains marginalised in urban mobility planning dominated by motorised transport. To address this gap, Institute for Spatial Policies and CIPRA Slovenia developed and tested a methodology for walkability planning within the programme Active Travel to School and Healthy City. The initiative aims to improve everyday walking conditions, particularly for children and other vulnerable groups, and to better integrate walking into local mobility, spatial planning and public health policies. Methods: The methodology was developed through collaboration between spatial planning, transport, education and public health experts and is based on participatory planning and the Healthy Cities concept. Implementation included three levels of participation: a municipal interdisciplinary working group, a local stakeholder focus group and participatory activities with residents, including vulnerable groups, using interviews, guided walks, participatory mapping and online consultations. Results: The methodology was applied through three Local Walkability Plans and six pilot cases. Findings show that improving walkability depends less on infrastructure investments and more on governance measures such as traffic calming, speed reduction and pedestrian prioritisation. Conclusions: The resulting guidelines offer a scalable model for integrating walking and HEPA into sustainable mobility and public health policies. Funding: Co-financed by the Slovenian Ministry of Health Keywords: active travel, walkability, participatory methods, Local Walkability Plan | |
