Personal Exposure to Environmental Pressures in Different Urban Residential Structures Linking Fieldwork and RS Mapping

Abstract

In urban areas, human exposure to environmental pollution is a major concern for health and well-being. It is yet unclear which existing pollution is actually perceived by the residents. This study contributes to a combined analysis of measured and perceived environmental pressures. Based on a high-resolution land cover mapping using the object-based image approach, urban structural information is obtained. Then, a heterogeneous urban district is selected for in-depth investigation to find out if there is a correlation between building structures and exposition. The environmental pressures on urban dwellers are investigated here on a refined scale with mobile measurements and accompanied by walking interviews. Measurements on noise, PM2.5, PM10, and high air temperatures are taken twice a day to monitor potential differences between the early morning and the afternoon situations and how big these might be. The results give a multifaceted picture of the measured and perceived influences. Noise is simply accepted by most interlocutors, as traffic is seen as a fact of life. The perception of measured air temperature varies greatly between pleasant and burdensome, where more stressful situations seem to occur in linear housing and some family homes with either little green infrastructure or a monotonous pattern of large meadows. Most strikingly are the measured PM ranges, where PM2.5 can reach very high values, twice that of PM10. Although PM2.5 severely affects the respiratory system, there is little awareness of these effects. Raising environmental awareness is crucial for environmental health and connects researchers and planners.