Post on 14-Jun-2015
Walkability of local Walkability of local communitiescommunitiesUsing geographic information systems to objectively assess relevant environmental attributes
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TECHNION-Israel Institute of TechnologyFaculty of Architecture and Town Planning
Urban and Regional Planning
מכון טכנולוגי לישראל- הטכניון
הפקולטה לארכיטקטורה ובינוי ערים
תכנון ערים ואזורים
207020שיטות תכנון מתקדמות - ד"ר ג'קלין ג'ובראן אבו דאוד
Leslie, E., Coffee, N., Frank, L., Owen, N., Baumann, A., Hugo, G.Elsevier Publishing Ltd. – Health & Place Vol. 13 Issue 1 2007
Premature death linked to sedentary lifestyle
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Sources photos 1 & 2:http://www.gossipjackal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/premature-death-linked-sedentary-lifestyle.jpghttp://www.houselogic.com/articles/boost-your-neighborhoods-walkability/
Physical inactivity a major health risk
•Overweight•Obesity•Heart disease•Various cancers
Or could this is the kind of neighborhood that he lives in?
How can physical activity be promoted?Environmental and Policy Interventions
But does the physical environment influence physical activity?
Let’s hope so
Research on the Research on the environmental-behavioral environmental-behavioral relationshiprelationship
Past research was not based on objective data◦ Creates a need for objective data-based
research Combination of GIS with social and
spatial epidemiology creates great potential for analysis
Useful studiesUseful studiesGiles-Corti & Donovan
◦ spatial access to built & natural rec. facilities + observer ratings = more access = more active
Troped & Colleagues◦ Distance of bikeways had neg. association with use
Bauman & Humpel◦ Geographic location associated w/increase phys.
ActivityKrizek
◦ Influence of certain attributes of urban form on phys activity
◦ Expose to urban environments with diff. attributes = individuals changed travel behavior
Identify & Document Identify & Document Differences in Environmental Differences in Environmental AttributesAttributes
DensityLand Use MixStreet ConnectivityAccess to Services
Why walking?Why walking?Main focus of
environmental and policy initiatives in public health
Walk-ability?Walk-ability?How conducive
the built environment and land use is for people to walk◦ For leisure◦ For exercise◦ For recreation◦ To access
services◦ To get to workPLACE Study
Saelens Literature Review Saelens Literature Review findingsfindings
Proximity◦ Compactness of land
use◦ Land use mix
◦ Compact & intermixed urban environment = determine distances between destinations
◦ To compete with other travel modes need <800 meters distance between destinations
Connectivity◦ Street network
design Directness of pathways
between destinations
Lack of relevant data◦ Presence of
Sidewalks
Sorry, that’s LESS than 800 Meters
GIS IN THE GIS IN THE AUSTRALIAN AUSTRALIAN CONTEXT: ADELAIDE CONTEXT: ADELAIDE STATISTICAL DIVISONSTATISTICAL DIVISONSource: http://www.bugbog.com/images/maps/australia-map.jpg Only used to study
accessibility to recreational facilities
This study used existing approach from USA’s Neighborhood Quality of Life Study
Need for smallest available spatial units: Census Collection Districts
Source: http://www.socsci.flinders.edu.au/cas/sanra/occasional/figure10.gif
SPATIAL DATA SETSSPATIAL DATA SETS
Tax valuationCadastral (parcel) dataStreet centerline dataLand useZoning dataShopping center location dataCensus data
Source: Leslie, E., et al. Walkability of local communities
Add in SES analysis based on Add in SES analysis based on census level data and Average age census level data and Average age
in each CCDin each CCD
Total 32 Communities – 156 CCDsTotal 32 Communities – 156 CCDs
Measurements in the walkability index Creating the indexDwelling densityConnectivityLand use attributesNet retail area
Each measure gets a leveled score 1-10
Sum of each CCD is between 4-40
Classify these scores into quartiles 1-4◦ 1 = lowest
◦ 4 = highest
Map out these scores in the field
Communities stratified in 4 Communities stratified in 4 quadrantsquadrants
Walkable
Low X
High O
Socioeconomic Status
O
O
Field validation – how did the Field validation – how did the index perform?index perform?Research team several
days in field◦ Index validated ◦ Methodology returned face-
valid resultsResident surveys showed
similar perceptions
The FutureThe FutureIndex needs to
be more comprehensive
GIS has largely untapped capacity in the physical activity & environmental relationship
Include more factors:◦ Presence/access to
parks◦ Presence/condition
and continuity of footpaths
◦ Urban design aspects
◦ Aesthetics◦ Safety
Use characteristics at individual residence level
The EndThe EndThere’s many
applications of GIS methods to promote increased physical activity
Use of the index in other countries◦ Possibly problematic
do to the use of detailed land use & census data
I live down the
street from the
gym!