Validation of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) Items Using Geographic Information Systems

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (s1) ◽  
pp. S113-S123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc A. Adams ◽  
Sherry Ryan ◽  
Jacqueline Kerr ◽  
James F. Sallis ◽  
Kevin Patrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Geographic Information Systems ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Traffic Congestion ◽  
Concurrent Validity ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Objective Measures

Background:Concurrent validity of Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) items was evaluated with objective measures of the built environment using geographic information systems (GIS).Methods:A sample of 878 parents of children 10 to 16 years old (mean age 43.5 years, SD = 6.8, 34.8% non-White, 63.8% overweight) completed NEWS and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. GIS was used to develop 1-mile street network buffers around participants’ residences. GIS measures of the built environment within participants’ buffers included percent of commercial and institutional land uses; number of schools and colleges, recreational facilities, parks, transit stops, and trees; land topography; and traffic congestion.Results:Except for trees and traffic, concordance between the NEWS and GIS measures were significant, with weak to moderate effect sizes (r = −0.09 to −0.36, all P ≤ 01). After participants were stratified by physical activity level, stronger concordance was observed among active participants for some measures. A sensitivity analysis of self-reported distance to 15 neighborhood destinations found a 20-minute (compared with 10- or 30-minute) walking threshold generally had the strongest correlations with GIS measures.Conclusions:These findings provide evidence of the concurrent validity of self-reported built environment items with objective measures. Physically active adults may be more knowledgeable about their neighborhood characteristics.

scholarly journals Environment and Resident Perception: Using Geographic Information Systems and Survey Methods

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabina Deitrick ◽  
Scott Beach ◽  
Ellen Kinnee ◽  
Meg Streiff
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Spatial Analysis ◽  
Geographic Information Systems ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Objective Measures ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Neighborhood Conditions

This paper examines the relationship between subjective measures of quality of life in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and objective measures of neighborhood environment using Geographic Information Systems. The research analyzes differences in participant perceptions of health and environment by combining spatial cluster analysis with survey methods to understand the spatial context of subjective well-being. Environmental Justice Areas are used as objective measures of socio-economic differences in the spatial analysis. The results found significant statistical differences as well as spatial clustering of survey responses and contribute to recent research analyzing subjective well-being through spatial analysis of objectively measured neighborhood conditions.

Geographic Information Systems & Location-Based Services

2011 ◽  
pp. 290-327
Author(s):  
Katina Michael ◽  
M.G. Michael
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Geographic Information Systems ◽  
Mobile Networks ◽  
Traffic Congestion ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Location Based Services ◽  
Automatic Identification ◽  
Data Matching ◽  
Road Design ◽  
Past Data

This chapter is about geographic information systems (GIS) and its relevance to the location-based services industry. One might initially ask how relevant GIS is to a book that is predominantly about automatic identification and its future trajectory. The answer becomes apparent quickly as the reader is introduced to the importance of geocoding information, i.e., geographically linking data such as personal details using a unique ID number. In the past data matching programs have received a great deal of attention from privacy advocates, especially those used for the administration of government procedures. Till now, automatic identification has facilitated electronic services (e-services), allowing an individual to be matched to a fixed address, usually their place of residence. But it is one thing to tag and another to track. Today, we are moving towards a model of tracking and monitoring people as they go about their daily business, in real time. We are no longer satisfied with knowing where an individual lives but we want to know their every move- so that we can estimate traffic congestion on a busy road, design 3G mobile networks that have enough capacity during busy hours, and to ensure someone’s safety when adequate supervision is not available.

scholarly journals Measuring the Influence of Built Neighborhood Environments on Walking in Older Adults

2006 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 302-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Michael ◽  
Tracey Beard ◽  
Dongseok Choi ◽  
Stephanie Farquhar ◽  
Nichole Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Geographic Information Systems ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Objective Measures ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Low Degree ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Degree Of Association

There is a need for greater understanding of how perceptions and objective measures of the physical environment influence physical activity among seniors. The goal of this study was to examine the degree of association between perceived and objective characteristics of the neighborhood environment and the relation of each type of measurement to neighborhood walking in older adults. Data on self-reported frequency of walking in the neighborhood and perceived measures of neighborhood environment from 105 older adults were linked to objective measures assessed by geographic information systems and an audit instrument. Perceived and objective measurements of the built environment exhibited a low degree of agreement (kappas: <.20). After adjustment for education, age, and gender, presence of a mall was positively associated with neighborhood walking in both the objective and perceived models.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document