The Application of GIS in Supporting Well-Being Cities
Created By RISC | 3 hours ago
Last modified date : 3 hours ago
Among the key trends gaining momentum this year, health has undeniably taken center stage. Today’s understanding of health extends beyond physical well-being to embrace a more holistic perspective—encompassing mental health, social well-being, and the surrounding environment. Together, these dimensions contribute to longevity with an enhanced quality of life.
This shift is reflected in the way people are reshaping their daily lifestyles. Individuals are paying greater attention to regular physical activity, adopting nutrition plans tailored to their personal needs, and showing increased interest in advanced medical technologies.
Yet, beyond individual choices, cities themselves play a critical role in promoting health and well-being among their populations.
A Well-Being City is not defined solely by convenient access to hospitals or comprehensive public healthcare services. Rather, it requires a broad range of supporting infrastructure and elements. These include a physical environment and climate conducive to good health; outdoor spaces that encourage active lifestyles; inclusive infrastructure and public transportation systems that ensure equitable access to services; as well as opportunities for social participation, cultural engagement, and shared belief systems—all of which significantly influence mental well-being and overall quality of life.
This raises an important question: How can we determine whether a city possesses the essential components to qualify as a well-being city and effectively support longevity with quality of life?
Geo-informatics technology plays a vital role in answering this question. By collecting, managing, and analyzing spatial data through geospatial technologies, GIS enables precise insights that can be applied to urban planning and strategic decision-making across multiple sectors.
GIS can be used to evaluate the potential of urban areas to function as well-being cities through a range of spatial indicators. These include accessibility to natural environments and green spaces within appropriate distances; heat-related risk levels based on heat index data; air quality indicators that impact public health; disaster risk exposure; proximity to mass transit systems that connect residents to essential well-being services; access to medical and preventive healthcare facilities; and population density per household.
The data are analyzed using methodologies such as factor weighting and rating-based suitability scoring to assess the overall potential of an area. The resulting insights can then inform urban design strategies and support evidence-based decision-making in the planning and development of well-being cities.
Story by Sirapach Mangkang, Geographic Information System (GIS) specialist, RISC