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Samuelsson, Karl, PostdoktorORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0002-7936-3722
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Publications (10 of 23) Show all publications
Samuelsson, K., Rivas, I., Raimbault, B., Domínguez, A., Galmés, T., Valentin, A., . . . Dadvand, P. (2025). A comprehensive GPS-based analysis of activity spaces in early and late pregnancy using the ActMAP framework. Health and Place, 91, Article ID 103413.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A comprehensive GPS-based analysis of activity spaces in early and late pregnancy using the ActMAP framework
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2025 (English)In: Health and Place, ISSN 1353-8292, E-ISSN 1873-2054, Vol. 91, article id 103413Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Health implications of mobility during pregnancy entail a need to understand pregnant women's activity spaces. We present ActMAP, a framework for quantifying multiple aspects of activity spaces from distinct trips and stays derived from GPS data. We applied ActMAP to data from 238 pregnant women in Barcelona, Spain (2018–2020) and explored weekday, weekend and intraday associations between pregnancy trimester and activity spaces. Activities were more centred around the home later in pregnancy. However, the number of visited places and daily trips remained largely constant throughout pregnancy. By constructing activity spaces from individual trips and stays, ActMAP could provide a framework for GPS-based holistic assessments of mobility.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2025
Keywords
Active travel, Location tracking, Urban environment, Spatiotemporal method, Cohort
National Category
Public Health, Global Health and Social Medicine Other Engineering and Technologies
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-46356 (URN)10.1016/j.healthplace.2025.103413 (DOI)001420904100001 ()39824032 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85215090012 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare
Available from: 2025-01-23 Created: 2025-01-23 Last updated: 2025-02-24Bibliographically approved
Domínguez, A., Dadvand, P., Cirach, M., Arévalo, G., Barril, L., Foraster, M., . . . Rivas, I. (2024). Development of land use regression, dispersion, and hybrid models for prediction of outdoor air pollution exposure in Barcelona. Science of the Total Environment, 954, Article ID 176632.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Development of land use regression, dispersion, and hybrid models for prediction of outdoor air pollution exposure in Barcelona
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2024 (English)In: Science of the Total Environment, ISSN 0048-9697, E-ISSN 1879-1026, Vol. 954, article id 176632Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background

Air pollution is the leading environmental risk factor for health. Assessing outdoor air pollution exposure with detailed spatial and temporal variability in urban areas is crucial for evaluating its health effects. Aim: We developed and compared Land Use Regression (LUR), dispersion (DM), and hybrid (HM) models to estimate outdoor concentrations for NO2, PM2.5, black carbon (BC), and PM2.5-constituents (Fe, Cu, Zn) in Barcelona.

Methods

Two monitoring campaigns were conducted. In the first, NO2 concentrations were measured twice at 984 home addresses and in the second, NO2, PM2.5, and BC were measured four times at 34 points across Barcelona. LUR and DM were constructed using conventional techniques, while HM was developed using Random Forest (RF). Model performance was evaluated using leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) and 10-fold cross-validation (10-CV) for LUR and HM, and by comparing DM and LUR estimates with routine monitoring stations. NO2 levels estimated by all models were externally validated using the home monitoring campaign. Agreement between models was assessed using Spearman correlation (rs) and Bland-Altman (BA) plots.

Results

Models showed moderate to good performance. LUR exhibited R2LOOCV of 0.62 (NO2), 0.45 (PM2.5), 0.83 (BC), and 0.85 to 0.89 (PM2.5-constituents). DM model comparison showed R2 values of 0.39 (NO2), 0.26 (PM2.5), and 0.65 (BC). HM models had higher R210-CV 0.64 (NO2), 0.66 (PM2.5), 0.86 (BC), and 0.44 to 0.70 (PM2.5-constituents). Validation for NO2 showed R2 values of 0.56 (LUR), 0.44 (DM), and 0.64 (HM). Correlations between models varied from −0.38 to 0.92 for long-term exposure, and − 0.23 to 0.94 for short-term exposure. BA plots showed good agreement between models, especially for NO2 and BC.

Conclusions

Our models varied substantially, with some models performing better in validation samples (NO2 and BC). Future health studies should use the most accurate methods to minimize bias from exposure measurement error.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2024
Keywords
Air pollution, Exposure assessment, Spatiotemporal models, Epidemiology
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-45820 (URN)10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176632 (DOI)39362534 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85205902024 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2024-10-11 Created: 2024-10-11 Last updated: 2024-10-21Bibliographically approved
Samuelsson, K., Brandt, S. A., Barthel, S., Linder, N., Lim, N. J., Hallman, D. & Giusti, M. (2024). Diverse experiences by active travel for carbon neutrality: A longitudinal study of residential context, daily travel and experience types. Geography and Sustainability, 5(3), 459-469
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Diverse experiences by active travel for carbon neutrality: A longitudinal study of residential context, daily travel and experience types
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2024 (English)In: Geography and Sustainability, ISSN 2666-6839, Vol. 5, no 3, p. 459-469Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Two key goals for sustainable spatial planning are to promote low-carbon travel in daily life and to enhance human wellbeing through diverse human-environment interactions. Yet, the integration of these goals has been underexplored. This study investigates the potential for experiential diversity via active travel in different residential contexts within the Gävle city-region, Sweden. Over 15 months, we collected spatiotemporal data from 165 participants, analyzing 4,362 reported experiences and 13,192 GPS-derived travel trajectories. Our analysis uncovered a significant spatial discrepancy: while the travelled distances to locations of positive experiences typically ranged from 1.5 km to 5 km, active travel predominated only within 1.5 km. This discrepancy persisted across urban, suburban, and peripheral contexts. Although residents in different contexts reported the same types of experiences, urban dwellers travelled about 50 % farther for nature experiences compared with other positive experiences, whereas peripheral dwellers travelled twice the distance for urbanicity experiences compared with other positive experiences. Consequently, urban residents mostly relied on active travel for urbanicity experiences and motorised travel for nature experiences, with the reverse trend observed among peripheral dwellers. These results illustrate the importance of spatial scale for promoting diverse positive experiences via active travel, regardless of residential context. Effective planning strategies may include enhancing environmental diversity near homes and developing infrastructure that favours active over motorised travel for short to moderate distances.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2024
Keywords
Walking, Biking, Experiential diversity, GPS data, Smartphone app, Topodiversity
National Category
Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
Research subject
Health-Promoting Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-45266 (URN)10.1016/j.geosus.2024.05.002 (DOI)001270520100001 ()2-s2.0-85196953269 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2022-00841InterregMistra - The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research, DIA 2019/28Swedish Research Council Formas, 2021-00416
Available from: 2024-07-22 Created: 2024-07-22 Last updated: 2025-05-06Bibliographically approved
Samuelsson, K., Brandt, S. A., Barthel, S., Linder, N., Lim, N. J. & Giusti, M. (2023). Diverse experiences by active travel: Longitudinal study reveals a persistent discrepancy across residential contexts.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Diverse experiences by active travel: Longitudinal study reveals a persistent discrepancy across residential contexts
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2023 (English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

To inform spatial planning promoting low-carbon travel and well-being, we investigate the potential for experiential diversity by active travel across different residential contexts. We use spatiotemporal tracking and experience data from the Gävle city-region, Sweden, generated by 165 participants over the course of 15 months. Findings reveal a discrepancy between typical travel distances to locations of positive experiences (1.5–5 km) and the distances at which active travel dominates (up to 1.5 km). This discrepancy largely persists across urban, suburban, and peripheral contexts, with urban dwellers travelling further for nature experiences, whereas peripheral dwellers travel further for urbanicity experiences. These results illustrate the importance of spatial scale for promoting diverse positive experiences by active travel, regardless of residential context. Planning strategies include enhancing environmental diversity close to people’s homes and providing infrastructure that promotes switching from motorised to active travel for trips of a few kilometres.

Publisher
p. 10
National Category
Other Social Sciences
Research subject
Sustainable Urban Development
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-43456 (URN)
Available from: 2023-12-15 Created: 2023-12-15 Last updated: 2023-12-18Bibliographically approved
Giusti, M. & Samuelsson, K. (2023). Evaluation of a smartphone-based methodology that integrates long-term tracking of mobility, place experiences, heart rate variability, and subjective well-being. Heliyon, 9(5), Article ID e15751.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Evaluation of a smartphone-based methodology that integrates long-term tracking of mobility, place experiences, heart rate variability, and subjective well-being
2023 (English)In: Heliyon, E-ISSN 2405-8440, Vol. 9, no 5, article id e15751Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

This study presents MyGävle, a smartphone application that merge long-term tracking of mobility data, heart rate variability and subjective and objective well-being records. Developed to address the challenges faced in researching healthy and sustainable lifestyles, this app serves as a pioneering implementation of Real-life Long-term Methodology (ReaLM). After eight months' use by 257 participants from Gävle (Sweden), we evaluate the completeness, accuracy, validity, and consistency of all data collected. MyGävle produced remarkable results as a ReaLM method. On average, it precisely tracked participants daily locations for approximately 8 h and accurately collected heart-rate variability values throughout the day (12 h) and night (6 h). Participants reported 5115 subjective place experiences (ranging from 160 to 120 per week) and seasonal participation, although declining, is accurate. Our findings indicate that the amount of data collected through smartphone sensors, fitness wristbands and in-app questionnaires is consistent enough to be leveraged for integrated assessments of habits, environmental exposure, and subjective and physiological well-being. Yet, considerable variation exists across individuals; thus diagnostic analysis must precede use of these datasets in any particular research endeavors. By doing so we can maximise the potential of ReaLM research to delve into real life conditions conducive to healthy living habits while also considering broader sustainability goals.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2023
Keywords
GPS; Heart rate variability; Longitudinal research; PPGIS; Smartphone methodology; Wellbeing
National Category
Other Engineering and Technologies
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-41739 (URN)10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15751 (DOI)001042287100001 ()37206049 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85154603141 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Vinnova
Available from: 2023-05-08 Created: 2023-05-08 Last updated: 2023-08-24Bibliographically approved
Chen, T.-H. K., Horsdal, H. T., Samuelsson, K., Closter, A. M., Davies, M., Barthel, S., . . . Sabel, C. E. (2023). Higher depression risks in medium- than in high-density urban form across Denmark. Science Advances, 9(21), Article ID eadf3760.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Higher depression risks in medium- than in high-density urban form across Denmark
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2023 (English)In: Science Advances, E-ISSN 2375-2548, Vol. 9, no 21, article id eadf3760Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Urban areas are associated with higher depression risks than rural areas. However, less is known about how different types of urban environments relate to depression risk. Here, we use satellite imagery and machine learning to quantify three-dimensional (3D) urban form (i.e., building density and height) over time. Combining satellite-derived urban form data and individual-level residential addresses, health, and socioeconomic registers, we conduct a case-control study (n = 75,650 cases and 756,500 controls) to examine the association between 3D urban form and depression in the Danish population. We find that living in dense inner-city areas did not carry the highest depression risks. Rather, after adjusting for socioeconomic factors, the highest risk was among sprawling suburbs, and the lowest was among multistory buildings with open space in the vicinity. The finding suggests that spatial land-use planning should prioritize securing access to open space in densely built areas to mitigate depression risks.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
AAAS, 2023
National Category
Health Sciences Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-41867 (URN)10.1126/sciadv.adf3760 (DOI)001009728200016 ()37224254 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85160187203 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Novo Nordisk, NNF17OC0027864
Available from: 2023-05-25 Created: 2023-05-25 Last updated: 2023-07-20Bibliographically approved
Gullberg, Y., Samuelsson, K. & Brandt, S. A. (2023). Key perceptions associated with attitudes towards water reuse in a Swedish town. Water Reuse, 13(4), 507-524
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Key perceptions associated with attitudes towards water reuse in a Swedish town
2023 (English)In: Water Reuse, ISSN 2709-6092, Vol. 13, no 4, p. 507-524Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

As climate change and urbanization affect current water management systems, new solutions and approaches rooted in public acceptance are needed to ensure future water supply. In this study, we examine public attitudes to reuse of recycled water and associated worldviews, values, and perceptions in a site without historical water issues. A survey of 143 randomly sampled residents in the municipality of the growing Swedish town Knivsta revealed that 81.4% of the respondents had a positive attitude towards using recycled water in general. The results did not indicate any differences in attitudes between those living in and outside the municipality's urban areas. Perceived benefits and risks were found to be significantly related to both attitudes towards using recycled water in general and to the extreme case of using it for drinking purposes. Additionally, trust in public authorities was highly predictive of attitudes towards drinking recycled water. Furthermore, attitudes were found to be related to an environmental worldview and underlying biospheric, altruistic, and hedonic values. This indicates a need to consider the intended purpose as well as engaging with underlying values as part of the technology legitimation process for improving the chances of successful implementation of water recycling technologies.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
IWA Publishing, 2023
Keywords
environmental worldview, participatory planning, public acceptance, recycled water, technology legitimation, value-belief-norm theory
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-43104 (URN)10.2166/wrd.2023.010 (DOI)001068554200001 ()2-s2.0-85181726858 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2023-10-05 Created: 2023-10-05 Last updated: 2024-01-15Bibliographically approved
Fagerholm, N., Samuelsson, K., Eilola, S., Giusti, M., Hasanzadeh, K., Kajosaari, A., . . . Barthel, S. (2022). Analysis of pandemic outdoor recreation and green infrastructure in Nordic cities to enhance urban resilience. npj Urban Sustainability, 2(1), Article ID 25.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Analysis of pandemic outdoor recreation and green infrastructure in Nordic cities to enhance urban resilience
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2022 (English)In: npj Urban Sustainability, E-ISSN 2661-8001, Vol. 2, no 1, article id 25Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Recent empirical research has confirmed the importance of green infrastructure and outdoor recreation to urban people’s well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, only a few studies provide cross-city analyses. We analyse outdoor recreation behaviour across four Nordic cities ranging from metropolitan areas to a middle-sized city. We collected map-based survey data from residents (n = 469–4992) in spring 2020 and spatially analyse green infrastructure near mapped outdoor recreation sites and respondents’ places of residence. Our statistical examination reveals how the interplay among access to green infrastructure across cities and at respondents’ residential location, together with respondents’ socio-demographic profiles and lockdown policies or pandemic restrictions, affects outdoor recreation behaviour. The results highlight that for pandemic resilience, the history of Nordic spatial planning is important. To support well-being in exceptional situations as well as in the long term, green infrastructure planning should prioritise nature wedges in and close to cities and support small-scale green infrastructure.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Nature, 2022
National Category
Human Geography
Research subject
Sustainable Urban Development
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-40485 (URN)10.1038/s42949-022-00068-8 (DOI)000999961600001 ()2-s2.0-85148368932 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Academy of Finland, 321555NordForsk, 95322
Available from: 2022-11-22 Created: 2022-11-22 Last updated: 2024-09-12Bibliographically approved
Colding, J., Samuelsson, K., Marcus, L., Gren, Å., Legeby, A., Berghauser Pont, M. & Barthel, S. (2022). Frontiers in Social–Ecological Urbanism. Land, 11(6), Article ID 929.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Frontiers in Social–Ecological Urbanism
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2022 (English)In: Land, E-ISSN 2073-445X, Vol. 11, no 6, article id 929Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

This paper describes a new approach in urban ecological design, referred to as social- ecological urbanism (SEU). It draws from research in resilience thinking and space syntax in the analysis of relationships between urban processes and urban form at the microlevel of cities, where social and ecological services are directly experienced by urban dwellers. The paper elaborates on three types of media for urban designers to intervene in urban systems, including urban form, institutions, and discourse, that together function as a significant enabler of urban change. The paper ends by presenting four future research frontiers with a potential to advance the field of social-ecological urbanism: (1) urban density and critical biodiversity thresholds, (2) human and non-human movement in urban space, (3) the retrofitting of urban design, and (4) reversing the trend of urban ecological illiteracy through affordance designs that connect people with nature and with each other.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI, 2022
Keywords
social-ecological systems, urban design, climate-change adaptation, ecosystem services, cognitive resilience building
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-39478 (URN)10.3390/land11060929 (DOI)000816197600001 ()2-s2.0-85132749647 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 2017-00937Swedish Research Council Formas, 2016-01193Swedish Research Council Formas, 2018-00281Stockholm County Council, 2016-01193
Available from: 2022-07-07 Created: 2022-07-07 Last updated: 2023-02-06Bibliographically approved
Linder, N., Giusti, M., Samuelsson, K. & Barthel, S. (2022). Pro-environmental habits: An underexplored research agenda in sustainability science. Ambio, 51, 546-556
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Pro-environmental habits: An underexplored research agenda in sustainability science
2022 (English)In: Ambio, ISSN 0044-7447, E-ISSN 1654-7209, Vol. 51, p. 546-556Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Habits are the fundamental basis for many of our daily actions and can be powerful barriers to behavioural change. Still, habits are not included in most narratives, theories, and interventions applied to sustainable behaviour. One reason societies struggle to reach policy goals and people fail to change towards more pro-environmental lifestyles might be that many behaviours are now bound by strong habits that override knowledge and intentions to act. In this perspective article, we provide three arguments for why pro-environmental habits are a needed research agenda in sustainability science: (1) habit theory highlights how behaviour is heavily reliant on automatic processes, (2) the environmental context sets boundary conditions for behaviour, shape habits, and cues action responses, and (3) our habits and past behaviour shape our values and self-identity. These arguments highlight the transformative potential of looking at sustainable behaviours through a habit lens. We believe a research agenda on pro-environmental habits could generate a more holistic understanding of sustainable behaviours and complement today's dominating approaches which emphasize reasoned decisions and intrinsic motivations such as values, norms, and intentions to understand and predict pro-environmental behaviour. We highlight evident knowledge gaps and practical benefits of considering habit theory to promote pro-environmental behaviours, and how habit architecture could be utilized as a strong leverage point when designing, modifying, and building urban environments.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer, 2022
Keywords
Behaviour change, Climate change, Habit, Pro-environmental behaviour, Urban sustainability
National Category
Environmental Sciences Sociology (Excluding Social Work, Social Anthropology, Demography and Criminology)
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-37031 (URN)10.1007/s13280-021-01619-6 (DOI)000695786300003 ()34519955 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85114880773 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2021-09-16 Created: 2021-09-16 Last updated: 2025-02-17Bibliographically approved
Projects
Urban form for health-promoting activity spaces [2022-00841_Forte]; University of Gävle
Organisations
Identifiers
ORCID iD: ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0002-7936-3722

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