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Community Wayfinding: Pathways to Understanding pp 3–16Cite as

Introduction to Community Wayfinding

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Abstract

This introductory chapter sets the stage for the remainder of the book, defining key terms and reflecting on the historical and cultural aspects of human wayfinding and wayfaring. The authors highlight the importance of wayfinding, which is becoming more challenging in an increasingly urbanized and complex world that offers a plethora of choices. At the same time, communities invest in wayfinding infrastructure while individuals have ever more access to personal tools like smartphones that can facilitate wayfinding. The authors also describe the research and practice perspectives that contribute to an understanding of wayfinding and the barriers that currently impede a more integrated perspective. The chapter provides a conceptual framework to illuminate the interaction of wayfinding tasks with individual and environmental factors, as well as tools and technologies. It also articulates the potential benefits to individual and community health and vitality, calling attention to the heretofore largely unrecognized links between ease of wayfinding and public health outcomes, as well as other benefits to community livability and vitality. The introduction poses critical questions regarding the future of wayfinding research, practice, and policy, which are explored in depth in subsequent chapters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Rebecca H. Hunter M.Ed.

  2. Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Lynda A. Anderson Ph.D.

  3. Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Basia L. Belza Ph.D., RN, FAAN

Authors
  1. Rebecca H. Hunter M.Ed.
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  2. Lynda A. Anderson Ph.D.
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  3. Basia L. Belza Ph.D., RN, FAAN
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebecca H. Hunter M.Ed. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ctr fr HealthPromotion&DiseasePrevention, Univ of North Carolina at Chapel Hi, CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina, USA

    Rebecca H. Hunter

  2. Division of Population Health, Cntrs for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Lynda A. Anderson

  3. Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Basia L. Belza

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Hunter, R.H., Anderson, L.A., Belza, B.L. (2016). Introduction to Community Wayfinding. In: Hunter, R., Anderson, L., Belza, B. (eds) Community Wayfinding: Pathways to Understanding. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31072-5_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31072-5_1

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