scientist with beakers
The term built environment refers to man-made structures and infrastructure. This can include everything from simple homes to entire cities and even artificial outdoor environments. Built environments provide the basic necessities for human life as we know it, and therefore must be functional and healthy for all. Finding that balance is a complicated and challenging process that is constantly being refined.
A built environment includes all structures created by people, including infrastructure elements such as streets, sidewalks, water and sewer lines, electricity, and other utilities. Human behavior experts and urban planners work to find the most positive use of space for people. A single building can also be studied for its effectiveness. Commercial building designs are constantly changing in design to better accommodate the business that takes place within the walls.
There are serious concerns about the health impact that a built environment has on people. Studies have shown that people, particularly those in low-income areas, can be negatively influenced by their built environment. Healthy living advocates point to a lack of adequate exercise space and healthy eating facilities as some of the main reasons people in low-income areas have health problems. Independent civic groups often study specific areas and implement environmental changes to foster a more integrated community.
A built environment can also be an outdoor space that has been manipulated by man. Community parks and other designed open space areas are examples of outdoor places that are considered built environments. There is a challenging balance between preserving space and making it usable for people, especially tourists in large national parks. Some naturalists want to keep the land as it is, without adding additional trails or other features to the areas. The general result is that most of the large parks have designated sites for tourism, while other areas remain untouched.
Sustainability is one of the latest concerns when planning a new environment or updating an old one. Green energy sources and building materials are used more than ever. An example of this is the city of Greensburg, Kansas, which was destroyed by a tornado in 2007. The city was rebuilt with sustainable materials and energy efficient energy sources. It has come to be known as the “Greenest City in America.” Communities undergoing this greening process serve as social experiments in positively functioning built environments.