omgivelser

Omgivelser is the Danish and Norwegian term for the surroundings or environment of a person, place, or object. It denotes the elements that surround something and can shape its conditions, opportunities, and behavior.

Omgivelser are typically divided into natural surroundings (topography, climate, vegetation, wildlife), built surroundings (streets, buildings, infrastructure, land use), and social surroundings (people, institutions, culture, norms). Increasingly, some writers also include digital or virtual environments as part of the surrounding context.

In research and planning, omgivelser influence processes such as movement, resource use, health, safety, and well-being. For example, the design of a neighborhood—its street layout, green space, and noise levels—affects physical activity, social interaction, and comfort. In ecology, urban planning, architecture, and environmental psychology, the concept helps explain how surroundings shape outcomes for ecosystems and people.

Methods to study omgivelser include field observations, surveys, spatial analysis, and geographic information systems (GIS). Designers and policymakers use the concept to assess impact, plan interventions, and create more sustainable, inclusive spaces. The term emphasizes locality and the immediate context surrounding someone or something, highlighting how surrounding elements shape experience and results.