Street trees and visually enclosed spaces can improve sleep by enhancing people's sense of safety, according to a study reported by infohub.kz.
Researchers at Osaka City University investigated how urban design affects sleep quality. They analyzed over 200,000 Google Street View images using artificial intelligence and cross-referenced them with sleep data from 1,089 working city residents. The study included residents of lower-floor apartments aged 40 to 59 living in Tokyo.
The findings showed that tree cover and buildings that create visually enclosed street spaces are directly linked to longer sleep duration. Residents in such areas are significantly less likely to experience insomnia symptoms. The key factor was perceived environment: green and sheltered spaces are seen as safer and more comfortable for living.
In contrast, pedestrian-priority streets were unexpectedly associated with shorter sleep duration, likely due to a lower sense of safety. The authors note that considering such details can help urban planners create environments conducive to health.