Field Experiments on Health and the Built Environment in Urban Settings : A Scoping Review
Bretones Diaz, Alexandra (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Geografia)
Nello-Deakin, Samuel (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Geografia)
Honey-Rosés, Jordi (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)

Date:	2026
Abstract:	Purpose of Review: Science has long examined how the built environment impacts health and wellbeing, yet most research has relied on observational and longitudinal studies. Much less attention has been paid to field experiments as a method to understand how environmental conditions may impact health. Although formal field experiments are common in public health, environmental psychology and related fields, they remain rare in urban planning and design despite their potential to inform how urban transformations may improve health and wellbeing. This scoping review examines how field experiments have been used to assess the health and wellbeing impacts of the built environment. Recent Findings: Following an extensive keyword search, we identified studies published between 2015 and 2025 that employed a field experimental design in an urban or peri-urban context and directly assessed health-related outcomes associated with built environment characteristics or interventions. A total of 26 studies met the inclusion criteria and were analysed according to their topical focus, methodological design, assessed health outcomes, and reported challenges and limitations. Most studies focused on the health and wellbeing impacts of exposure to urban green features, accounting for over two thirds of reviewed studies. Mental health and wellbeing outcomes were assessed more frequently than physical health outcomes, often through a combination of self-reported and objective physiological measures. Only a limited number of studies involved direct interventions or transformations of the built environment, while most compared existing environmental conditions. Summary: The limited number of field experiments addressing issues beyond urban green features suggests there is considerable opportunity to expand the use of field experiments to assess the health impacts of other types of built environment interventions, particularly in the context of the growing popularity of tactical urbanism and temporary urban transformations.
Grants:	Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades RyC-2019-027279-I Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades CEX2024-001506-M Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades JDC2023-050393I
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Note:	Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2024-001506-M
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Built environment ; Field experiments ; Health ; Tactical urbanism ; Environmental exposure
Published in:	Current Environmental Health Reports, Vol. 13 (May 2026) , art. 22, ISSN 2196-5412

DOI: 10.1007/s40572-026-00539-5
PMID: 42154374

9 p, 886.5 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles