Currently visiting: Anna Kajosaari

26.09.2023

In her research Anna Kajosaari is using digital participatory mapping methods to understand how urban environments support pupulation health and well-being. As visiting professor at the Department of Geography and Regional Research from October till December 2023 she will encourage her students to think critically about the knowledge portrayed in a GIS environment and introduce a more human-centric view to GIS methods and spatial analysis. Welcome!

  • What is so fascinating about your research area?

Participatory mapping methods are not new, but their use in digital form has developed considerably during the last decade. This offers exciting opportunities to implement place-based social scientific knowledge into both urban planning practice and empirical research on human-environment interactions. In my own research, I use digital participatory mapping methods to understand how urban environments support population health and well-being and how these benefits may differ based on who you are and where you live your life. Such knowledge is needed in the planning of healthy cities and communities.

  • Which central message should your students remember?

I would like to challenge students with a GIS background to think critically about the origin of different forms of knowledge portrayed in a GIS environment. For students coming from fields using predominantly qualitative research methods, I wish to introduce a more human-centric view to GIS methods and spatial analysis.

  • Why did you decide to do research and teach at our Faculty?

Since Fall 2022, I have worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Urban and Regional Research (ISR) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Our current FWF-funded research project "CURB – The COVID-19-pandemic as a disruptive force for urbanization" pioneers the large-scale use of Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) methods in Austria. In this project, we utilized digital participatory mapping to gather data on the spatial practices and experiences of urban and suburban residents in Vienna and the neighboring district of Mödling. Organizing this course parallel with the ongoing research project allows the students opportunity to follow the practical application of PPGIS methods in research.

  • Which three publications characterise your work?

Kajosaari, A., Ramezani, S. & Rinne, T. (2022). Built environment and seasonal variation in active transportation: A longitudinal, mixed-method study in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Journal of Transport & Health, 27, 101511.

Kajosaari, A., & Pasanen, T. P. (2021). Restorative benefits of everyday green exercise: A spatial approach. Landscape and Urban Planning, 206, 103978.

Kajosaari, A., & Laatikainen, T. E. (2020). Adults’ leisure-time physical activity and the neighborhood built environment: a contextual perspective. International Journal of Health Geographics, 19(35).

 

Thank you & welcome to our Faculty!

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Anna Kajosaari Photo: Archè Photography

Anna Kajosaari is visiting professor at the "Spatial research and spatial planning" group of the Department of Geography and Regional Research from October till December 2023. Photo: Archè Photography

Figure showing resident-mapped data on the recreational use of green and blue spaces in Espoo, Finland. Map figure by Anna Kajosaari

Digital mapping tools provide opportunities to capture residents' spatial practices, local knowledge, and views on how to improve the living environment. The figure portrays resident-mapped data on the recreational use of green and blue spaces in Espoo, Finland (City of Espoo / Aalto University). Map figure by Anna Kajosaari