Human Flow Dataset Reveals Changes in Citizens’ Outing Behaviors including Greenspace Visits before and during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kanazawa, Japan

Abstract

Greenspaces, including parks, provide various socio-ecological benefits such as for aesthetics, temperature remediation, biodiversity conservation, and outdoor recreation. The health benefits of urban greenspaces have received particular attention since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has triggered various movement restrictions and lifestyle changes, including regarding the frequency of people’s visits to greenspaces. Using mobile-tracking GPS data of Kanazawa citizens, we explored how citizens’ behaviors with respect to outings changed before and during Japan’s declaration of a COVID-19 state of emergency (April–May 2020). We also examined citizens’ greenspace visits in relation to their travel distance from home. We found that Kanazawa citizens avoided going out during the pandemic, with a decrease in the number, time, and distance of outings. As for the means of transportation, the percentage of outings by foot increased on both weekdays and holidays. While citizens refrained from going out, the percentage change of the percentage in large greenspace visits increased very slightly in 2020. As for greenspace visitation in 2020 compared to 2019, we found that citizens generally visited greenspaces closer to their homes, actually increasing visitation of nearby (within 1000 m) greenspaces. This study of how outing behaviors and greenspace use by Kanazawa citizens have changed underscores the value of nearby greenspaces for physical and mental health during movement restrictions under the pandemic.

Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression in the Investigation of Local COVID-19 Anomalies Based on Population Age Structure in Poland

“…The studies related to the COVID-19 pandemic also address the impact of the pandemic on many aspects of human life. The pandemic has changed the perception of green spaces in cities [43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50], as well as the perception of city public spaces [51][52][53][54]. The pandemic has had, and continues to have, an impact on the real estate market [55].…”

Influence of the Demographic, Social, and Environmental Factors on the COVID-19 Pandemic—Analysis of the Local Variations Using Geographically Weighted Regression

“…Many studies have attempted to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various areas of life. The COVID-19 pandemic, through a series of introduced restrictions and limitations, has changed the way people use public space; this has become particularly apparent in the case of green spaces [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. Urban open space played a positive role in allowing people to stay connected with their neighbors, to feel reassured, and to maintain or increase their physical activity levels during the pandemic.…”