Is it over-ambitious to expect spatial planning to deliver better Essay

Is it over-ambitious to expect spatial planning to deliver better health - Essay Example started developing sewer systems in all cities in order to address the outbreak of epidemics such as cholera, influenza and tuberculosis (Jackson 2011, p 23). In the last two decades, there has been considerable interest in the relationship between the fields of urban planning and public health in order to address the major health concerns (Greed, 1999, p 9). Currently, the role of government in urban environment and city planning has been critical in enhancing the health of population since city planners issue built environment regulations and zoning laws that determine the design of the infrastructure, sewer systems, roads, public spaces and social amenities in the neighborhoods (Boone and Modarres 2009, p 30). Spatial planning leads to better health and sustainable communities. Planning concepts such as Spatial Urban Health Equity Indicators (SUHEI) allows the urban planning authorities to determine the relationship between exposure to health hazards and health effects. The initial goal of planning was to offer healthy living conditions for the growing urban populations, but recent planning efforts focus on the importance of space and place in the communities (Cullingworth and Nadin, 2006, p 9). According to environmental research, the surrounding social, biological, chemical and physical factors determine the quality of health of an individual since factors such as unemployment, unsafe neighborhoods, noise and radiation negatively affect the health and wellbeing of an individual. The Driving force-Pressure-State-Exposure-Effect-Action (DPSEEA) model outlines that driving forces push the environmental factors that that ultimately pressure the environment through human exploitation thus exposing human beings to conditions that turn out to be environmental h azards (Jackson, 2011, p 13). The Multiple Exposures-Multiple Effects (MEME) model outlines that contextual factors such as economic development, demographics and social conditions influence the exposure to