Activity space, office space: Measuring the spatial movement of office workers

• Published in: Applied ergonomics 2022-01, Vol.98, p.103600-103600, Article 103600
• Main Authors: Pollard, Brett, Engelen, Lina, Held, Fabian, de Dear, Richard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activity space; Home range; Office; Physical inactivity; Sensors; Spatial behaviour
• ISSN: 0003-6870; 1872-9126
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103600

A key to the development of more effective interventions to promote movement and reduce physical inactivity in office workplaces may be to measure and locate individual's spatial movement. Using an activity space estimation method, high resolution location data collected from 15 office workers over 12 days were used to estimate and analyse the location and extent of their daily spatial movement whilst in an office work-based setting. The results indicated that the method, kernel density estimation, combined with location data offers significant opportunities to not only measure and compare spatial movement behaviours but also simultaneously identify the locations where the behaviours occur. Combined with other data streams, this method will allow researchers to further investigate the influence of different environmental characteristics on these behaviours, potentially leading the development of more effective, longer lasting interventions to promote movement and reduce stationary behaviour, ultimately improving the health of office workers. •Demonstrates feasibility of using activity space estimation to establish spatial movement in an office workplace.•Extent and location of participants' daily spatial movement varied, both within and between participants.•Negligible association found between observation time and extent of daily spatial movement.•Describes novel research opportunities resulting from use of IPS data and activity space estimation.