Walkability of local Walkability of local communitiescommunitiesUsing geographic information systems to objectively assess relevant environmental attributes

1

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

2

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!