In partnership with the University of Melbourne, researchers from Queen's combined advanced AI and computer modelling to find ways that future cities can be designed to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Research Challenge
The goal was to generate evidence and tools to support the urban planning and health sectors to better understand how to design cities to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancer, heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, chronic respiratory conditions, and poor mental health.
The research investigated the mechanisms by which the design of our cities may cause NCDs. It used new methods in computer vision and AI to explore the relationship between urban design and NCDs in cities across the UK and Australia.
Our Approach
In partnership with the University of Melbourne and funded by UKRI and NHMRC, this three-year project (2020 to 2023) aimed to use new methods in computer vision and artificial intelligence, to explore the relationship between urban design and NCDs in cities across the UK and Australia. It also investigated how different urban design elements impact on health inequalities within cities. By combining data from different sources, the research identified mechanisms through which the design of our cities may cause NCDs.
The project combined epidemiological, computer vision, artificial intelligence, and comparative risk assessment methods.
"By harnessing the potential of large health and spatial datasets and AI methods, we can gain a deeper understanding of how urban design can help prevent non-communicable diseases. This evidence can then be used to inform urban planning that promotes health for all.”
- Dr Leandro Garcia
What impact did it make?
“The project found that certain ways cities are built, like the layout of streets and access to open spaces, can affect people’s risk of getting long-term health problems. Some health issues are more strongly linked to city design than others, meaning that changing certain parts of how we build cities could make a bigger difference to people’s health.”
- Dr Leandro Garcia
By developing a toolkit for action for local citizens, urban designers and planners, public health practitioners, and policy makers, the outcomes will help inform future policies and lead to powerful, actionable changes in UK and Australian cities.
Our impact
Impact related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Queen’s University’s commitment to nurturing a culture of sustainability and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through research and education.
