Spatial Behavior and Healthy aging: A GPS-based study of the older residents in Shanghai

The living environment is an important resource for cities to response the challenge of aging population. In order to further implement the Healthy and Active Aging Strategy (WHO, 2007), planners and designers should re-examine the existing living environment from the standpoint of specific groups and think about the rigid practices of traditional planning, such as allocating resources based on administrative divisions, static demographic statistics, and planning indicators. This study attempts to explore a demand-responsive spatial intervention countermeasure through new types of data and technical routes from a professional perspective of urban planning and public services. The study was conducted in Shanghai, 76 senior citizens were asked to take an Android Phone and Fitbit Fitness Ring for 102 consecutive days from September 18 to December 28, 2015. The data generated by experimental equipment was uploaded to the database (SQL) via the Internet in real time, which will be recorded and classified by the system backstage. By collecting and analyzing the trajectory and health data of the older residents, the study attempts to discuss the structural relationship between spatial behavior and behavioral space. 1. The study reveals that even under the highly consistent social and environmental base conditions, there are still significant differences among the elderlies’ daily life activities, mainly including the age and gender differences. This indicates that the elderly-oriented construction and renewal of the built environment should focus on the commonality of elderly groups as well as the applicability and safety of environmental facilities. On top of that, we should pay attention to the differentiated features within the group so as to improve the life quality of elderlies. 2. The findings shows that the decision-making process of elderlies is based on the individual's selective understanding, learning, and organization of external information. The decision-making result is determined not only by the location-born opportunity and environmental constraints, but also the individuals’ cognition of space. 3. As indicated by the study, the behavioral space of elderlies is the area containing all accessible activity sites under spatiotemporal constraints. The patterns of their travel activities are related to the starting point, effective interval, travel time, and the physical conditions of individuals. Through the linkage analysis of different types of trips and target POIs (such as business hours), it is conducive to gaining a deep understanding of the reaction pattern of behaviors to environmental information, the arrangement of the trip chain, and daytime activity sequence. To sum up, the spatial behavior of elderlies is essentially the result of interactions between people and the environment. It means that in an active lifestyle, the environmental stimulation should be fully utilized for elderlies; on the contrary, a negative lifestyle suggests that either the built environment does not provide enough support for elderlies or it is beyond their capability. The lifestyle of elderlies, especially the behaviors and concepts, is formed during their interaction with the physical and social environment. This interaction presents human’s needs and values. It also serves as a medium for people to intervene, understand, and transform the environment. People can seek improvements and strategies through identifying the contradiction between human and the environment.