A study published in the journal Building and Environment showed that the visual environment of the streets surrounding a home can directly affect the duration and quality of a person's sleep.
Scientists used artificial intelligence to analyze more than 200,000 images from Google Street View to assess urban environmental characteristics, including the number of trees, building density, sidewalks, roads, and other elements. They then compared this data with sleep patterns of 1,089 working Tokyo residents living on the lower floors of apartment buildings, where the effects of the surrounding scenery are more pronounced.
The results showed that people living on greener streets tended to sleep longer on average. Researchers also observed a similar relationship in densely populated areas, where buildings may provide a greater sense of security and privacy, which was reflected in fewer insomnia symptoms among residents of those areas. This subjective sense of security was also linked to increased sleep duration.
Interestingly, the study revealed that streets with well-developed pedestrian infrastructure, such as numerous sidewalks and traffic lights—usually indicators of a comfortable urban environment—were associated with reduced sleep duration and a decreased sense of security. Researchers suggest this may be because these areas tend to be noisier, more vibrant, and more densely populated.
The researchers believe that these findings may help city engineers and urban planners design neighborhoods that not only provide comfort and ease of movement, but also take into account the impact of the surrounding environment on the health and quality of life of residents, including sleep.
