Physical activity in public space: insights from a global community of practice applying photovoice as a tool for digital participatory place analysis

Physical activity in open spaces is a crucial topic of urban health around the globe. As cities and everyday life differ a lot in specific urban contexts, places for physical activity may vary in shape, perception and use by local people. A group of researchers from eight countries in Europe, South America and Asia used the same online-photovoice application to explore places in their cities regarding physical activity in public spaces. Using the same application in eight countries with diverse local participants, we collected a rich basis for a reflection on methodological issues, the usability of the online-photovoice application and determinants of physical activity in public spaces in contrasting cities. The paper aims to provide traceable documentation of a collaborative learning activity with an online-photovoice application. In doing so, results are presented from researchers’ self-reflection as a global community of practice on how the online-photovoice approach can be applied to place analysis for healthy urban development at different places with practitioners, communities, and scientists from diverse backgrounds. The paper contributes to a broader problem understanding of physical activity in public open spaces. As one result, we find that including aspects of safety and conflict in public space is highly relevant.