The BIG project - Improving quality of life with Integrative GIS
The BIG project uses Gävle as a test bed to understand how healthy, sustainable and viable cities will be built in the future. The project is a collaboration between the University of Gävle and Future Position X (FpX)
The BIG project uses Gävle as a test bed to understand how healthy, sustainable and viable cities will be built in the future. The project is a collaboration between the University of Gävle and Future Position X (FPX)
The BIG project aims to create knowledge for future urban solutions that simultaneously promote individual, social and ecological health. The project will map Gävle's environments based on ecological and geographical factors and analyze these together with how people experience the environments.
The project will run for three years and will provide innovative and practical tools for sustainable urban development. The aim of the project is to develop a new digital methodology and innovative knowledge for regenerative, nature-based solutions.
Collection of data
The research project collects data in three ways:
1. Digital maps
In the BIG project, a variety of GIS layers about the environment in Gävle will be produced and analyzed. The work covers the city's infrastructure (for example, how walkable and bikeable a place is, or the availability of healthcare in an area), the amount of trees, as well as air pollution and noise.
2. the MyGävle app
Gävle residents will be able to use the MyGävle app. The app will collect data on how participants move around Gävle. Participants can also report their positive and negative experiences of the city. These data are central to the research to understand where, when and how social interaction, nature experiences and psychological recovery occur. The effects of movement patterns and experiences will be examined quarterly through surveys on people's perceptions of their health and well-being, life satisfaction, social cohesion, sense of safety and connection to nature.
3. activity bracelets
The third method of data collection is via Garmin vìvosmart 4. The project will provide a Garmin vìvosmart 4 to 400 people representative of the population of Gävle. Through the activity wristbands, biometric data will be collected about the participants, such as number of steps, quality of sleep, calories burned, heart rate and stress levels. In combination with GPS data collected through MyGävle, the BIG project will be able to study how a specific location at a specific time with its environmental factors has affected people's health and well-being.
Project group
Several researchers and professionals are involved in the project.
- Matteo Giusti, PhD, Researcher in Sustainability Science, is the Principal Investigator and Project Manager of BIG and MyGävle. He has previous experience in designing and running PPGIS studies and he is an expert in sustainable human-nature relations and regenerative dynamics (HIG).
- Karl Samuelsson
External link., postdoctoral researcher, specializes in using GIS, PPGIS and spatial statistical models to explore the relationships between the physical and social environment of the city and people's experiences and well-being (HIG). - Nancy Joy Lim External link., PhD in Geospatial Information Science at HIG. She has technical expertise in modeling, GIS analysis and geovisualization (HIG).
- Stephan Barthel External link., Professor at the University. He acts as a mentor for the project team (HIG)
- Anders Brandt External link., Associate Professor in Geospatial Information Science with expertise in physical geography, GIS and spatial multi-criteria decisions (HIG).
- Andrew Mercer, PhD in Physical Geography, has technical expertise in GIS and BIG DATA science (HIG)
- Gloria Macassa External link., is a medical doctor and professor of public health and epidemiology. She contributes to the project with her expertise on the interaction between social and environmental sustainability, health and well-being from a health economics perspective (HIG)
- Andreas Franzén is a senior developer at Machinae AB and has been responsible for the development of MyGävle.
- Per Andersson is a process manager at FPX. He acts as a bridge between research and academia, creating connections and insights of great value to MyGävle and the entire BIG project.
- Malin Hefvelin (Bachelor of Science in Business and Economics) is a freelance journalist and copywriter contributing content to MyGävle and the BIG project (FPX).
- Magnus Engström is the Head of Technology at FPX. He acts as a mentor for all technical aspects of the BIG project and MyGävle (FPX).
- Julia Engström is a communicator and market strategist for MyGävle (FPX).
Facts about the project
Project name: BIG-project - Better life quality with Integrative GIS
Project name: (BIG) Better life quality with Integrative GIS
Project leader: Matteo Giusti
Collaboration: University of Gävle in collaboration with Future Position X
Funding: University of Gävle, Future Position X and Vinnova
Timetable: The project runs for three years 2020-2022
This page was last updated 2024-12-12