The Influence of Urban Context on Emotions and Bodily Responses During Walking

Urban walking offers a unique lens to understand how environmental conditions affect human well-being through both perception and physiological response. This study analyzes 2,207 walking trips from 90 participants from their daily mobility patterns in Lisbon, Portugal, integrating GPS trajectories, physiological signals, self-reported emotions, semantic street imagery, and high-resolution environmental data. We examined how urban features-such as vegetation, noise, sky visibility, infrastructure, and points of interest - relate to peripheral bio signals, like heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, skin temperature, and self-reported emotional states. Results show that moderately green and culturally vibrant environments enhance well-being, calmness, and alertness, while noise, heat, and technical infrastructure increase physiological stress. Clustering analyses reveal that environmental typologies shape affective and bodily responses, with greener and quieter routes yielding more positive outcomes. These findings underscore the embodied nature of walking in cities and highlight the importance of integrating sensory, spatial, and emotional dimensions into urban design for healthier pedestrian experiences.