Semi-urban Environments Research Articles

A modified cost-231-hata path loss model for typical semi-urban environments in Nigeria

Outdoor path loss propagation modeling is critical in the planning and design of the coverage area by the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM). For the best prediction of GSM signal at any location within its coverage region, an accurate forecast based on critical characteristics and a mathematical model is necessary. Multiple studies on path loss propagation model prediction for GSM networks conducted at various semi-urban environments in Nigeria proclaimed that propagation path loss models may provide different results when utilized in environments other than those in which they were initially designed, that car drive-test methodology was used during the data collection, and that COST-231-Hata model provides closet prediction to the practical measure values. This paper created an appropriate path loss model based on the COST-23-Hata model and outdoor measurement at 1800 MHz frequency range for the semi-urban area of Kwara State, Nigeria. The created model was used and validated with the measured data and COST-231-Hata model at other different semi-urban environments in Nigeria. The results analysis shows that the created model performed satisfactorily given the closet path loss prediction to the practical measure path loss values at all the study locations. It also gives the lowest Square Root Means Error (SRME) and Standard Deviation (SD) in all the base stations that were tested in semi-urban environments. The newly created model would therefore be more appropriate for GSM 1800 network design and installation in semi-urban environments in Kwara State, Nigeria, as well as any other semi-urban locations in Nigeria.

Does novelty influence the foraging decisions of a scavenger?

Acquiring knowledge about the environment is crucial for survival. Animals, often driven by their exploratory tendencies, gather valuable information regarding food resources, shelter, mating partners, etc. However, neophobia, or avoiding novel environmental stimuli, can constrain their exploratory behaviour. While neophobia can reduce potential predation risks, decreased exploratory behaviour resulting from it may limit the ability to discover highly rewarding resources. Dogs (Canis familiaris) living in semi-urban and urban environments as free-ranging populations, although subject to various selection forces, typically have negligible predation pressure. These dogs are scavengers in human-dominated environments; thus, selection against object-neophobia can provide benefits when searching for novel food resources. Although captive pack-living dogs are known to be less neophobic than their closest living ancestors, wolves (Canis lupus), little is known about free-ranging dogs' behavioural responses to novel objects, particularly in foraging contexts. Using an object choice experiment, we tested 259 free-ranging dogs from two age classes, adult and juvenile, to investigate their object-neophobia in a scavenging context. We employed a between-subject study design, providing dogs with a familiar and a potentially novel object, both baited with equal, hidden food items. Adult and juvenile dogs significantly inspected the novel object first compared to the familiar one, even when the hidden food item was partially visible. To validate these findings, we compared novel objects with different strengths of olfactory cues (baited vs. false-baited) and found that they were inspected comparably by adults and juveniles. No significant differences were found in the latencies to inspect the objects, suggesting that free-ranging dogs may still be cautious when exploring their environments. These results indicate that free-ranging dogs, evidently from an early ontogenetic phase, do not show object-neophobia, as demonstrated by their preference for novel over familiar food sources. We conclude that little to no constraint of neophobia on exploratory behaviour in semi-urban and urban-dwelling animals can guide foraging decision-making processes, providing adaptive benefits.

Comparative Evaluation of LiDAR systems for transport infrastructure: case studies and performance analysis

ABSTRACT Mobile laser scanners are vital for intelligent transport infrastructure, capturing detailed 3D road representations, but their accuracy depends on factors like sensor positioning and environment. This study compares two van-mounted Mobile Laser Scanners (MLS): the dual head Lynx Mobile Mapper and the single head VUX-1 HA, along with the terrestrial laser scanner Faro Focus XX30. Using point cloud reference data from Faro Focus XX30 and GNSS data from Trimble R8, performance is assessed in road, urban, and semi-urban environments. Accuracy is measured by the difference between Trimble GNSS and MLS coordinates. Geometric features of each LiDAR are compared, and mapping tasks in road and urban areas are performed using a machine learning classifier. Results show the MLS-single head scanner achieves satisfactory accuracy in roads and semi-urban areas, while Faro performs better in urban settings for classification. MLS-single head excels in road environments, while Faro is superior in urban ones. This analysis aids researchers and professionals in selecting the appropriate mobile laser scanner for mapping transport infrastructure, providing valuable insights into MLS systems’ comparative performance across different environments.

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) feathers as bioindicators of exposure to metals and metalloids contamination in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas from Campeche state, Mexico

Landfills are sources of soil, water, and air pollution due to the release of toxic compounds such as metals and metalloids. In both tropical and temperate environments, scavenger birds such as the Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) that have learned to use these sites as a feeding area are probably exposed to metals, metalloids and other “persistent bioaccumulative toxic substances (PBTs)” released in open dumpsite (OD) and sanitary landfill (SL). The objective of this study is to evaluate the presence and distribution of toxic metals (Al, Sn, Hg, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr) and As in OD and SL from urban, semi-urban and rural localities in Campeche, México, using molting feathers of C. atratus as bioindicators. A total of 125 Black Vulture primary and secondary wing feathers were collected from OD and SL. Metals were determined by voltammetry through acid digestion. The highest levels of metals occurred in landfills in urban, semi-urban, and rural localities. The elements with the highest concentrations were Al, with an average of 35.67 ± 33.51 μg g−1 from rural environments, and As, with 16.20 ± 30.06 μg g−1 from the urban localities. Mercury was the only element that had a very homogeneous distribution between the three environments we studied. In general, Pb, Hg, Cu and Cd were the elements that presented the lowest concentrations with 0.32 ± 0.35, 0.16 ± 0.22, 0.14 ± 0.31 and 0.06 ± 0.10 μg g−1, respectively regardless of any particular location or environment. Black Vultures from dumpsites are good bioindicators of what humans consume in urban, semi-urban, and rural environments. However, the conservation of vultures is of great importance since these scavenger birds perform ecosystem services by feeding on decomposing organic material.

Poetry in youth mutual aid groups for recovery in rural and semi-urban environments

ABSTRACT Background For mental disorders Mutual Aid Groups (MAG) have been proposed, however, these have lack of methodologies that approach the needs of young people. The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of MAG in rural and semi-urban environments, developed through poetry, on the improvement of mental health. Methods A quasi-experimental study was carried out in Caldas, Colombia. 171 adolescents participated, divided into 10 MAG. Child Behavior Checklist 4–18 (CBCL/4–18) was used and the nuclear components of the MAG were applied, adding elements of introduction to poetry, creation and group rituals. Results Statistically significant associations (P < .001) were found between the number of sessions and the reduction of symptoms, as well as a decrease in Internalizing Problems and Social problems, after participating in the groups. Conclusion Poetry applied to the core components of the MAG can improve psychiatric symptoms in adolescents.

Performance analytics for regulation in retail water utilities: Guiding asset management by identifying peers and targets

This research evaluates the performance of water supply utilities operating at the retail level in Portugal concerning asset management practices. The study’s main innovative feature is identifying peers and targets to guide improvements in the sector. Reliable data collected by the regulatory authority for water and waste services in Portugal (ERSAR) are employed to design two composite indicators reflecting different dimensions of asset management: operational conditions and management systems. Based on the Data Envelopment Analysis technique, the Benefit-of-the-Doubt model is employed in robust and conditional formulations. The role of the context on utilities’ performance is also investigated. The results show that the direct management model is unfavourable concerning developing structured management systems, whilst urban environments favour managerial advancement. Rural and semi-urban environments favour “good” operational results in infrastructures. The pool of peers obtained for each utility and the quantification of targets based on the observed achievements by those peers facilitates the search for industry best practices and promotes continuous improvement. Given the high heterogeneity in asset management performance within the sector, the utility-specific target-setting approach illustrated in this paper can support a regulatory policy review for determining more realistic goals.

Updated Anopheles mosquitos abundance and distribution in north-eastern malaria-free area of Argentina.

Malaria is the most important parasitic disease worldwide. In 2019, more than 679,441 cases of malaria were reported in the American region. During this study, Argentina was in malaria pre-elimination autochthonous transmission phase with the aim of being declared as malaria-free country. The aim of this work was to assess the influence of remote sensing spectral indices (NDVI, NDWI) and climatic variables (temperature, relative humidity and precipitation) on the distribution and abundance of Anopheles mosquitoes, in four localities with different degrees of anthropogenic disturbance and with previous malaria cases records located , in a historical malarious area in northeastern of Argentina. Between June 2012 and July 2014, mosquitoes were collected. We collected 535 Anopheles adult mosquitoes. Anopheles strodei s.l. was the most abundant species. The greatest richness, diversity and abundance of species were registered in wild and semi-urban environments. The abundance of Anopheles presented a negative association with relative humidity and mean temperature, but positive with mean maximum temperature. The most important variables determining Anopheles total abundance and distribution were NDWI Index and distance to vegetation. The abundance of An. strodei s.l., was positive associated with water areas whereas the NDVI Index was negatively associated.

Training Needs and Quality of Public Health Inspectors in Greece during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background Public Health Inspectors (PHI) task is to promote health, respond to emerging threats in Public Health and prevent and control of the communicable and environmental diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, PHI and other Healthcare Workers faced greater biological risks of infections and therefore personal protection was of great importance for their health and safety. Staff education and training is an important factor of disaster management capability and may help prevent and control pandemics. This study took place during the COVID-19 pandemic and aimed to investigate the training needs and training quality of Greek Public Health Inspectors. Methods A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted between March and June 2021 in Greece. An online survey was distributed to respondents by email through the National Public Health Inspectorate Administration. The survey included seven Likert scale items for assessing the training needs (health and safety of work, stress management, health services administration, crisis management in the health sector, natural disasters, personal protective equipment and protection against biological agents and protection from chemical agents) and two Likert scale items for assessing the training quality. Results The response rate was 30.5 % (185/606 PHI). The 62.2% were females with a mean age of 49 years old (sd = 8.2) and a mean work experience of 15.9 years (sd = 8.5). Most participants (64.51%) reported high training needs on health and safety at work, stress management and personal protective equipment. Most participants (43.78%) also reported low training quality. Training needs were higher for women and in urban and semi-urban workplace environments. Conclusions High training needs and low rate in training quality are important issues for PHI in all workplace environments. PHI need training in health and safety at work, stress management and personal protective equipment. Key messages • High training needs and low rate in training quality are important issues for Public Health Inspectors in all workplace environments in Greece. • Future training for Greek Public Health Inspectors should focus on health and safety at work, stress management and personal protective equipment.

Lost in space? Refugee Entrepreneurship and Cultural Diversity in Spatial Contexts

Abstract In the past decade, refugee entrepreneurship has received unprecedented political and public attention worldwide and especially in Germany. Due to the circumstances of the forced migration and asylum procedure, refugee entrepreneurs are socially disembedded in both: the co-ethnic community and in the local community, in comparison to other immigrant entrepreneurs or native entrepreneurs. Since asylum seekers are allocated to their residence independent of their will, it is crucial to assess how their socio-spatial embeddedness determines refugee entrepreneurial propensity. We depart from the abstract concept of mixed embeddedness and concretize spatial embeddedness in urban, semi-urban and rural environments. By building on the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship (KSTE), we include embeddedness in cultural diversity in our research model, too. The econometric analyses of the German Microcensus suggest, first, that refugees are especially prone to entrepreneurship. Second, intercultural embeddedness has the strongest significant positive correlation with refugee entrepreneurial propensity, compared to other immigrants and native-born. However, when including interaction effects of cultural diversity in different spaces, the positive relationship of ethnic diversity and refugee entrepreneurship holds only true in semi-urban spaces. This provides clues that refugee entrepreneurs in rural or urban environments access resources and opportunities through alternative social capital.

On the Achievability of Submeter-Accurate UAV Navigation With Cellular Signals Exploiting Loose Network Synchronization

A framework that could achieve submeter-level unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) horizontal navigation in multipath-free environments with cellular carrier phase measurements is developed. This framework exploits the “loose” synchronization between cellular base transceiver station (BTS) clocks. It is shown through extensive experimental data that the beat frequency stability of cellular BTSs approaches that of atomic standards and that the clock deviations can be realized as a stable autoregressive moving average model. This BTS clock model is referred to as loose network synchronization. A rule-of-thumb is established for clustering the clock deviations to minimize the position estimation error, while significantly reducing the computational complexity. The presented models allow the UAV to achieve sustained carrier phase-based meter- to submeter-accurate navigation. To demonstrate the efficacy of the developed framework, this article presents three UAV flight experiments in Southern California, USA, utilizing signals from different cellular providers transmitting at different frequencies. The three experiments took place in open, semiurban environments with nearly multipath-free, line-of-sight (LOS) conditions, in which the UAV traveled 1.72, 3.07, and 0.61 km, achieving a horizontal position root mean squared error of 36.61, 88.58, and 89.33 cm, respectively, with respect to the UAV’s on-board navigation system.

Improving spatial characterization of buried bedrock valleys through airborne frequency-domain electromagnetic, residual magnetic, and surface resistivity measurements

The development of a three-dimensional (3D) hydrogeologic site model requires detailed knowledge of an area's hydrostratigraphy, information typically obtained from core logs, historical well records, outcrop mapping, and/or surface geophysics. Due to the high cost of drilling, a 3D model may rely on various statistical techniques to interpolate lithological boundaries between points located tens of kilometers or more apart. This situation can result in poorly constrained or simplified lithostratigraphic models, with under-sampled features such as karst and buried bedrock valleys. The non-invasive nature of airborne geophysical surveys combined with its dense sampling capability can fill critical data gaps. This study evaluates the capacity of a helicopter borne frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) and residual magnetic survey using the Resolve™ system over a buried bedrock valley incised in a multi-layered dolostone aquifer within a complex glaciated environment in an urban/agricultural region of southern Ontario, Canada. The resulting airborne data was evaluated against two high-resolution ground-based electrical resistivity transects oriented orthogonal to the valley, alongside a published Quaternary geological model. A comparison between our local geophysically-based model and the regional geological model shows that the airborne electromagnetic surveys can markedly improve characterization of bedrock valley morphology and Quaternary sedimentary unit architecture that is comparable to that obtained using high-resolution surface-based electrical resistivity measurements with 10 m electrode spacing. The scale of heterogeneity that can be resolved by the airborne survey reveals the level of petrophysical variability that can be seen within the valley infill. Our study demonstrates the potential of airborne FDEM surveys in semi-urban agricultural environments where detailed characterization of Quaternary sediment architecture and bedrock topography is needed to inform 3D groundwater flow system variability.

El rol de la exploración geofísica en acuíferos profundos en ambientes semiurbanos y rurales en cuencas de ante arco Andino, caso de estudio en acuífero del río Ñuble, Valle Central de Chile

The hydric resource coming from groundwater has a strategic nature at global scale, within a context of overpopulation and over exploitation of the resource and climate change. Chile doesn’t scape to it, where climate models predict a drought for most of the country, including partially, the agriculture region of the Central Valley between Santiago and Puerto Montt. The adaption process to global change demands the exploration new sources of provisions of this resource, being strategic the one coming from aquifers. To date, the knowledge of these resources is limited to depths below 200 m in each aquifer. However, in the Central Valley between Santiago and Chiloé, the geophysical evidences allow to infer the existence of a thick volcano-sedimentary basin growing in thickness southward well above 500m, with good potential for occurrence of large groundwater resources. &#x0D; The characterization of deep aquifers, 200-1,000 m of depth, demands to have an exploration tool economic, non-invasive, and reliable, able to be applied in semi-urban and rural environments, where the water resource need is higher.&#x0D; The geophysical methodologies meet these characteristics and have been applied in Chile and elsewhere as an exploration tool of ground water resources. However, its application have not been described in Andean environments, of large population and/or agro-industrial activity. In consequence, the present work raises a methodological strategy for the characterization of groundwater resources, in particular for the detection of deep resources. We propose the application of a combination of complementary geophysical techniques, including electrical, electromagnetic, and gravimetric methods (to determine the aquifer geometry) along with complementary techniques, like magnetometry, to reduce interpretation ambiguity and , constrained by hydrogeological information and petrophysics of rocks and sediments of the basin and basement. Complementary, we include an analysis of the potential effects of cultural noise and its effects on geophysical observations, given the focus of exploration in semi-urban and rural places.&#x0D; With the aim to validate the proposed methodology we use as a case study the aquifer of Ñuble river, in the Ñuble region, Chile. This aquifer properly represents an Andean forearc environment in rural and semi-urban condition, and potentially hosting a deep seated aquifer. The results allow the characterization of an aquifer with hydrogeological potential between 50 and 300-500 depth, overlying a sedimentary basin of more than 1,000 m thickness. The application of the proposed methodology for the exploration of groundwater resources will provide, in consequence, the recognition of a vital relevance resource for the sustainability of Chile during the following decades.

Curcumin Derivatives as Potential Mosquito Larvicidal Agents against Two Mosquito Vectors, Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus.

Vector-borne diseases have appeared or re-emerged in many Southern Europe countries making the transmission of infectious diseases by mosquitoes (vectors) one of the greatest worldwide health threats. Larvicides have been used extensively for the control of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse, 1895) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes in urban and semi-urban environments, causing the increasing resistance of mosquitoes to commercial insecticides. In this study, 27 curcuminoids and monocarbonyl curcumin derivatives were synthesised and evaluated as potential larvicidal agents against Cx. pipiens and Ae. albopictus. Most of the compounds were more effective against larvae of both mosquito species. Four of the tested compounds, curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, curcumin-BF2 complex and a monocarbonyl tetramethoxy curcumin derivative exhibited high activity against both species. In Cx. pipiens the recorded LC50 values were 6.0, 9.4, 5.0 and 32.5 ppm, respectively, whereas in Ae. albopictus they exhibited LC50 values of 9.2, 36.0, 5.5 and 23.6 ppm, respectively. No conclusive structure activity relationship was evident from the results and the variety of descriptors values generated in silico provided some insight to this end.

Suitability of WRF model for simulating meteorological variables in rural, semi-urban and urban environments of Central India

Suitability of WRF model for simulating meteorological variables in rural, semi-urban and urban environments of Central India

Senior Homeless Population was Covid-19 Free in 3 shelter communities after adapting the Life Island model (Note)

An example of Covid-19 free groups of seniors-elderly social work clients in three semi-urban environments in Central Eastern Europe is presented During the major peak of the pandemics, all clients remained Covid-19 free due to the life island policy characterized by semi-quarantine, due to incentive and social policies as well as initial testing

Feeding Habits of Vector Mosquitoes in Harris County, TX, 2018.

Mosquito-borne pathogens contribute significantly to the global burden of infectious diseases and are a continuing public health concern in the United States. Blood feeding by vector mosquitoes is a critical step in the transmission of human pathogens. Continuous surveillance of mosquito feeding patterns, especially in major population centers, is necessary for sustainable, effective control strategies. To better understand female feeding habits in Harris County, TX, we trapped mosquitoes from various locations, distributed among urban and semi-urban environments. Bloodmeal hosts were determined using a cytochrome C oxidase I DNA barcoding strategy. We identified a diverse array of vertebrate hosts with a high degree of avian host utilization, most surprisingly from anthropophilic species like Aedes aegypti (L.). We also detected sequences from two different vertebrate hosts in about half of specimens examined, suggesting that multiple bloodmeals had been acquired in the same feeding cycle by a sizable fraction of females in both urban and semi-urban locations. The high proportion of feeding on domestic chickens may indicate that a significant number of homeowners are rearing chickens within close proximity to study trap sites. As non-amplifying hosts, chickens may have a diluting effect on West Nile virus, as well as a zooprophylactic effect in their immediate vicinities. Ultimately, spatial and temporal host utilization patterns add insight into potential disease transmission dynamics, thereby informing vector control strategies in Harris County and other metropolitan areas.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Diabetes, Chronic Kidney Disease, and Hypertension of Adults in the Peruvian Amazon: The Amarakaeri Reserve Cohort Study

Background: The Peruvian Amazon is in the midst of an epidemiological transition. Large urban population centers are growing rapidly, with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) beginning to outpace incidence of infectious diseases. However, in rural and semi-urban environments, population-level NCD burdens remain poorly defined. Methods: In 2015 we conducted a cross-sectional study of randomly selected adults in indigenous, rural, and semi-urban communities surrounding the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve (ACR) in the southern Amazon region of Peru. We estimated disease prevalence and identified risk factors for several NCDs, including diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and hypertension. Findings: We surveyed 2,268 adults from 1,122 households. Disease prevalence for men was 1·7% for diabetes, 10·2% for CKD, 7·0% for hypertension, and 18·7% for any NCD (diabetes, CKD, or hypertension). Prevalence for women was 2·5% for diabetes, 3·3% for CKD, 1·8% for hypertension, and 7·3% for any NCD. Among adults with diabetes or hypertension, only 31% and 19% were aware of their disease status, respectively. No cases of diabetes were found in indigenous communities. Age was a risk factor for each NCD outcome, physical inactivity was a risk factor for diabetes, and male sex and education were risk factors for hypertension. Interpretation: The ACR in the Peruvian Amazon has a high NCD burden, with disparities observed by sex and indigenous status. Risk factors identified indicate that disease burden may increase with age and its associated cardiovascular impacts. As many of these risk factors are modifiable, early interventions that address these issues will provide a better chance to slow, stop, or even reverse the installation of larger disease burdens. Funding Statement: Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University Center for International Studies (DUCIS), and Hunt Oil, LLC. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: Approval for this study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and informed consent was obtained from all adult participants.

Urban vibes in a rural setting: a study of the bush doof scene in Byron Shire

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to consider the politico-cultural significance of the Australian ‘bush-doof’ for contemporary youth. The bush-doof is a localised form of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) party held in a bushland setting. It is argued that the bush doof provides a space for young people to reject forms of commoditised and over-regulated night-time leisure associated with (semi)urban environments. Associated with this is an expression of a shared ecological consciousness that finds its primary form of articulation in the rural setting of the bush doof event. In framing the experience of young doof party goers, Maffesoli’s concept of neo-tribe is used as a means of situating doof parties as opportunities for temporal bonding and sociality. Although neo-tribe has previously been used in studies of EDM, such work has often focused on urban settings. In this article, however, we argue that neo-tribal theory can also be effective as a means of understanding the experience of EDM in regional and rural settings. More specifically, we demonstrate how in its rural manifestation of the doof party, EDM also functions as an important marker of identity and fosters young people’s need for belonging and communitas.

Ecology of Leishmaniasis in an urbanized landscape: Relationship of sand fly densities, and Leishmania tropica infection rates with reservoir host colonies

Urbanization may influence the transmission of leishmaniasis, which is as a serious public health issue in Palestine. Semi urban environments can provide suitable habitats for the reservoir host species and the vector sand flies to create favorable condition for disease transmission. This study was aimed to evaluating the effect of distance from hyrax (reservoir host) colonies on sand fly (vector) abundance and its relationship to Leishmania infection within a semi urban landscape. In the Aleskan neighborhood the town of Tubas, sand flies were collected in July and September of 2016. Five trapping transects were set running from a rocky area containing hyrax dwelling habitats into an area of inhabited houses. 1051 Phlebotomus sand flies from 9 species were captured. The numbers of Phlebotomus sergenti, the vector species, correlated negatively with the distance from hyrax. Infected, blood engorged female sand flies were captured closer to hyrax colonies than infected, non-fed females. The risk of disease transmission to humans increased with a high density of reservoirs, closer proximity of reservoir hosts, and high densities of sand flies near houses. These results must be taken into account when implementing future interventions to reduce CL in urban environments.

Are neighbourhood characteristics associated with physical activity levels in schoolchildren?

Abstract Background Moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is an essential determinant of health for children. However 82% of children aged 11-17 years in Turkey are physically inactive. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of physical inactivity (PI) and sociodemographic and neighbourhood characteristics associated with PI among children aged 9-13 years. Methods The population of this cross-sectional study was 5-7th grade students attending schools in a district of Istanbul. Two schools from urban and two from semi-urban localities were selected in order to capture different neighbourhood characteristics. Sample size was calculated as 344 assuming a difference of PI prevalence of 15% between neighbourhoods, an alpha error of 0.05, a power of 80%. Data were collected by child and parent questionnaires. PI was defined as &amp;lt; 60 minutes MVPA per day within the previous week. Neighbourhood characteristics were evaluated as physical (walkability levels, structure of sidewalks, presence of yards/parks, traffic density) and social (characteristics of social networks, trust among neighbours). Factors associated with PI were analysed by logistic regression. Results A total of 334 students participated with a response rate 96%. The median age was 11 years and 52.9% were girls. The prevalence of PI was 79.3% (95%CI: 75.0-83.7%). Neighbourhood characteristics were not associated with PI (p &amp;gt; 0.05). PI was associated with ownership of mobile phones (OR: 1.96, 95%CI: 1.01-3.78), not being a member of a sports team (OR: 2.83, 95%CI: 1.21-6.58) and having ≤1 day of physical education classes at school (OR: 2.10, 95%CI: 1.08-4.09). Conclusions The prevalence of PI is very high among schoolchildren. School-based interventions as motivating children to participate in sports teams and having physical education classes &amp;gt;1 times per week could be achievable strategies to combat PI. There is a need to adapt objective methods for assessment of neighbourhood characteristics. Key messages PI is a prevalent public health problem among school children in urban and semi-urban environments. The effectiveness of increasing structured physical activity levels at schools by utilizing sports teams and physical education classes should be evaluated in future studies.