Citation

Leslie E, Coffee N, Frank L, Owen N, Bauman AE, Hugo G. Health Place 2007; 13(1): 111-122.

Affiliation

School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Australia. evie.leslie@deakin.edu.au

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.healthplace.2005.11.001

PMID

16387522

Abstract

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be used to objectively measure features of the built environment that may influence adults' physical activity, which is an important determinant of chronic disease. We describe how a previously developed index of walkability was operationalised in an Australian context, using available spatial data. The index was used to generate a stratified sampling frame for the selection of households from 32 communities for the PLACE (Physical Activity in Localities and Community Environments) study. GIS data have the potential to be used to construct measures of environmental attributes and to develop indices of walkability for cities, regions or local communities.

Language: en