Horizon Europe funding

Year: 2023 – 2026

Involved partners: University of Valencia (Polibienestar research institute), University of Rijeka Medical Faculty, Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Bax Innovation (Healthy Cities), Polytechnic University of Valencia, Kveloce, Fisabio (Fundación para el fomento de la investigación sanitaria y biomédica de la Comunitat Valenciana)

HORUS is a European project that tackles non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by focusing on the urban environment’s influence on health-related behaviours and outcomes.

The Healthy Cities team conducted an in-depth urban analysis of three pilot cities: Valencia, Rotterdam, and Rijeka. This analysis combined quantitative and qualitative methods to establish a clear understanding of the specific dynamics of each city’s urban landscape and its potential impact on health. 

First, a quantitative analysis determined the baseline situation of urban factors such as density, connectivity & traffic, proximity to services, green and environmental aspects, and housing quality for each city. Urban data was collected and mapped for each city, together with health and lifestyle data. Using GIS software, a series of thematic maps was created to enable easy comparison among neighbourhoods and to identify relationships between urban characteristics and prevailing health issues. 

Second, focus groups were conducted in each city to explore the causal links between the urban environment and risk behaviours further. Participants went on exploratory walks around their neighbourhoods to identify barriers and facilitators for engaging in healthier lifestyles. This qualitative approach enriched the previous analysis with a deeper understanding of how people experience the urban environment in their day-to-day lives. Findings were gathered in participatory maps that highlighted health-enhancing features, as well as negative aspects and areas for improvement.

Finally, the learnings from this process informed the development of a new module of the Healthy Cities Generator, focused on citizen engagement. Through online surveys, the module collects residents’ perceptions of the urban environment. It provides insights into variations across different population groups, as well as enabling comparison between technical evaluations and citizen-informed assessments. 

The analysis results were centralised in an interactive platform, where users can explore all the data collected and easily compare urban health across cities and neighbourhoods. These results are accessible via the HORUS Platform: horus.baxcompany.com