Cross-disciplinary research perspectives on community wayfinding

Part of symposium, Community Wayfinding and Public Health: Relevance, Research and Promise (Session Abstract # 279818). This presentation by the CDC Healthy Aging Research Network provides a scoping review and synthesis of the existing literature on community wayfinding from the relevant fields of cognitive psychology, architecture, urban planning, and engineering, ascertaining key lines of investigation, evidence and evidence gaps, and implications for public health. To date, community wayfinding has received little attention in public health literature, despite its relevance to public health concerns such as neighborhood walkability, community engagement, pedestrian and motor vehicle safety, air quality, transportation, and social equity. Whether walking, cycling, driving, or using public transit, people depend on aids and cues in the environment to guide them to their destinations and return them to points of origin. Under poor wayfinding circumstances (e.g., in the absence of signs or distinctive design elements), or when individuals have conditions that compromise their wayfinding abilities (visual or cognitive impairments), the risk of becoming confused, creating a safety hazard, or getting lost is increased. The review covers environmental features, individual factors, user tools, and individual-environment interaction that facilitate community wayfinding. Particular attention is directed to wayfinding in special needs populations.