Transit-Oriented Development and Population Health Outcomes: A Geospatial Analysis of Taipei’s Metropolitan Area

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is an urban planning approach that promotes sustainable, compact, and walkable communities by integrating land use with public transit infrastructure. While TOD’s mobility and environmental benefits are well documented, its influence on public health—especially in high-density Asian contexts—remains underexplored. This study investigates the association between TOD and health outcomes in the Taipei metropolitan area using a geospatial big data framework. We constructed a composite TOD index for 432 neighborhoods across Taipei City and New Taipei City, incorporating transit accessibility, land use diversity, and built environment features. Machine learning and spatial regression models were employed to assess the relationship between TOD levels and population health indicators, including all-cause mortality, obesity, and chronic disease prevalence, while controlling for socioeconomic variables. Results indicate that neighborhoods with higher TOD scores had significantly better health outcomes, such as a 15% reduction in all-cause mortality and an 8 percentage point lower obesity prevalence compared to car-oriented areas. Spatial analysis further revealed clusters of poor health outcomes in peripheral areas lacking transit access. These findings suggest that TOD not only facilitates active travel and reduces pollution but also functions as an upstream public health intervention. For rapidly urbanizing regions like Taipei, integrating health metrics into TOD planning offers a promising pathway toward more equitable and healthier urban environments. This research underscores the critical role of interdisciplinary collaboration between urban planners and public health professionals in designing cities that support both sustainability and well-being.