Description of the multi-dimensional environment at the territorial scale: A holistic framework using cluster analysis and open data in France

The impact of the environment on health is usually studied in a segmented manner, with a focus on a single source, pollutant, or exposure medium. To better understand spatial health inequalities, it is necessary to adopt multi-dimensional approaches to comprehensively describe the environment, espec...

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Main Authors: M. Paumelle, F. Occelli, L.M. Wakim, D. Brousmiche, L. Bouhadj, C. Ternynck, C. Lanier, D. Cuny, A. Deram
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-10-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23007045
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author M. Paumelle
F. Occelli
L.M. Wakim
D. Brousmiche
L. Bouhadj
C. Ternynck
C. Lanier
D. Cuny
A. Deram
author_facet M. Paumelle
F. Occelli
L.M. Wakim
D. Brousmiche
L. Bouhadj
C. Ternynck
C. Lanier
D. Cuny
A. Deram
author_sort M. Paumelle
collection DOAJ
description The impact of the environment on health is usually studied in a segmented manner, with a focus on a single source, pollutant, or exposure medium. To better understand spatial health inequalities, it is necessary to adopt multi-dimensional approaches to comprehensively describe the environment, especially at the territorial level. Clustering methods, which allow for the development of territorial typologies, are particularly interesting for this purpose. By simplifying complex datasets, these methods may reveal spatial patterns and geographical phenomena that would otherwise be difficult to observe. Based on the existing literature, there is a clear need for large-scale territorial typologies that comprehensively address the physical and outdoor environment.A robust and transposable framework was developed and applied to 3,041 municipalities in Northern France using open environmental data. It consists of five main steps: data collection, data selection, data preparation, cluster analysis, and cluster interpretation. This methodology allows for the development of an environmental classification of municipalities by identifying the primary environmental profiles represented in the study area. Cluster detection was performed based on 39 spatialized indicators that describe the level of environmental contamination (air, water, soil), the level of pollutant emissions, the proximity to emission sources, the land use, the agricultural practices, and the degree of naturalness in every municipality. As a result, municipalities were allocated into one of the seven following environmental profiles: (i) Dense urban centers; (ii) Peripheral urban municipalities; (iii) Intensive agricultural municipalities under urban influence; (iv) Intensive agricultural municipalities beyond urban influence; (v) More extensive and diversified agricultural municipalities; (vi) Municipalities with predominant livestock activities and significant natural areas; (vii) Municipalities with predominant natural areas: forests, wetlands, and water surfaces. The resulting typology goes far beyond a simple description of the urban–rural continuum. Five profiles of rural municipalities were identified, primarily distinguished by agricultural practices, degree of naturalness, and intensity of urban pressure.This approach enables researchers to identify the combination of environmental factors that shape a territory. It provides a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of how environmental pressures and amenities are distributed in space and overlap with each other. By linking these typologies with health data, it could provide new insights into the etiology of complex diseases with unidentified environmental risk factors. Relying on open data, this framework is a valuable tool to assess etiological hypotheses at the territorial level.
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spelling doaj.art-fa56add500564127bbef3871991d330c2023-09-16T05:29:17ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2023-10-01154110562Description of the multi-dimensional environment at the territorial scale: A holistic framework using cluster analysis and open data in FranceM. Paumelle0F. Occelli1L.M. Wakim2D. Brousmiche3L. Bouhadj4C. Ternynck5C. Lanier6D. Cuny7A. Deram8Univ. Lille, Univ. Artois, IMT Lille Douai, JUNIA, ULR 4515 – LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Géo-Environnement, F-59000 Lille, France; Corresponding authors.Univ. Lille, Univ. Artois, IMT Lille Douai, JUNIA, ULR 4515 – LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Géo-Environnement, F-59000 Lille, France; Univ. Lille, UFR3S-Faculté d'Ingénierie et Management de la Santé (ILIS), F-59000 Lille, France; Corresponding authors.Univ. Lille, Univ. Artois, IMT Lille Douai, JUNIA, ULR 4515 – LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Géo-Environnement, F-59000 Lille, FranceUniv. Lille, Univ. Artois, IMT Lille Douai, JUNIA, ULR 4515 – LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Géo-Environnement, F-59000 Lille, France; Association pour la Prévention de la Pollution Atmosphérique, F-59120 Loos, FranceUniv. Lille, Univ. Artois, IMT Lille Douai, JUNIA, ULR 4515 – LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Géo-Environnement, F-59000 Lille, France; Agence de développement et d'Urbanisme de Lille Métropole (ADULM), F-59000 Lille, FranceUniv. Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694 – METRICS: Evaluation des technologies de santé et des pratiques médicales, F-59000 Lille, FranceUniv. Lille, Univ. Artois, IMT Lille Douai, JUNIA, ULR 4515 – LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Géo-Environnement, F-59000 Lille, France; Univ. Lille, UFR3S-Faculté d'Ingénierie et Management de la Santé (ILIS), F-59000 Lille, FranceUniv. Lille, Univ. Artois, IMT Lille Douai, JUNIA, ULR 4515 – LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Géo-Environnement, F-59000 Lille, France; Univ. Lille, UFR3S-Faculté de Pharmacie de Lille – LSVF, F-59000 Lille, FranceUniv. Lille, Univ. Artois, IMT Lille Douai, JUNIA, ULR 4515 – LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Géo-Environnement, F-59000 Lille, France; Univ. Lille, UFR3S-Faculté d'Ingénierie et Management de la Santé (ILIS), F-59000 Lille, France; Corresponding authors.The impact of the environment on health is usually studied in a segmented manner, with a focus on a single source, pollutant, or exposure medium. To better understand spatial health inequalities, it is necessary to adopt multi-dimensional approaches to comprehensively describe the environment, especially at the territorial level. Clustering methods, which allow for the development of territorial typologies, are particularly interesting for this purpose. By simplifying complex datasets, these methods may reveal spatial patterns and geographical phenomena that would otherwise be difficult to observe. Based on the existing literature, there is a clear need for large-scale territorial typologies that comprehensively address the physical and outdoor environment.A robust and transposable framework was developed and applied to 3,041 municipalities in Northern France using open environmental data. It consists of five main steps: data collection, data selection, data preparation, cluster analysis, and cluster interpretation. This methodology allows for the development of an environmental classification of municipalities by identifying the primary environmental profiles represented in the study area. Cluster detection was performed based on 39 spatialized indicators that describe the level of environmental contamination (air, water, soil), the level of pollutant emissions, the proximity to emission sources, the land use, the agricultural practices, and the degree of naturalness in every municipality. As a result, municipalities were allocated into one of the seven following environmental profiles: (i) Dense urban centers; (ii) Peripheral urban municipalities; (iii) Intensive agricultural municipalities under urban influence; (iv) Intensive agricultural municipalities beyond urban influence; (v) More extensive and diversified agricultural municipalities; (vi) Municipalities with predominant livestock activities and significant natural areas; (vii) Municipalities with predominant natural areas: forests, wetlands, and water surfaces. The resulting typology goes far beyond a simple description of the urban–rural continuum. Five profiles of rural municipalities were identified, primarily distinguished by agricultural practices, degree of naturalness, and intensity of urban pressure.This approach enables researchers to identify the combination of environmental factors that shape a territory. It provides a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of how environmental pressures and amenities are distributed in space and overlap with each other. By linking these typologies with health data, it could provide new insights into the etiology of complex diseases with unidentified environmental risk factors. Relying on open data, this framework is a valuable tool to assess etiological hypotheses at the territorial level.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23007045Classification methodsEnvironmental pressuresEnvironmental amenitiesOpen environmental dataSpatialized indicatorsTerritorial profiles
spellingShingle M. Paumelle
F. Occelli
L.M. Wakim
D. Brousmiche
L. Bouhadj
C. Ternynck
C. Lanier
D. Cuny
A. Deram
Description of the multi-dimensional environment at the territorial scale: A holistic framework using cluster analysis and open data in France
Ecological Indicators
Classification methods
Environmental pressures
Environmental amenities
Open environmental data
Spatialized indicators
Territorial profiles
title Description of the multi-dimensional environment at the territorial scale: A holistic framework using cluster analysis and open data in France
title_full Description of the multi-dimensional environment at the territorial scale: A holistic framework using cluster analysis and open data in France
title_fullStr Description of the multi-dimensional environment at the territorial scale: A holistic framework using cluster analysis and open data in France
title_full_unstemmed Description of the multi-dimensional environment at the territorial scale: A holistic framework using cluster analysis and open data in France
title_short Description of the multi-dimensional environment at the territorial scale: A holistic framework using cluster analysis and open data in France
title_sort description of the multi dimensional environment at the territorial scale a holistic framework using cluster analysis and open data in france
topic Classification methods
Environmental pressures
Environmental amenities
Open environmental data
Spatialized indicators
Territorial profiles
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23007045
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