Mapping and analysing the relations between human wellbeing and environment

By Ben Holland

Abstract
The importance of the environment and its relation to health and wellbeing has become arcane. Although health and wellbeing and the environment have been linked frequently since the nineteenth century, only in recent times has the focus been introduced into planning and policy. This makes relationship between health and wellbeing with the spatial environment ever more important. This research aims to investigate how the health and wellbeing of a population is influenced by the spatial characteristics of neighbourhoods within Amsterdam. The research has been conducted through both an exploratory analysis and environmental spatial analysis. These found that there is a strong link with perception of neighbourhoods and environments, however a lot of the other spatial characteristics showed little to no correlation. Other underlying factors have been explored, including the economic status and age. These both show to have an influence within this study. The research is finalised by suggesting how to conduct a similar study again in Amsterdam using different neighbourhood definitions or in a different country / continent to gain different results.