Active Transportation, Neighborhood Planning and Participatory GIS (Geographic Information System)

Abstract

On the Cover:A common and humorous test of mental dexterity is the ability to walk and chew gum at the same time. These two simple tasks rarely conflict and are performed without thought. Over the past 10 years a new test of mental dexterity has arisen with vast implications in the field of geospatial technology; can one walk and collect data at the same time?Research on walking and the built environment has accelerated by an increased interest in the relationship between urban form and public health. As the research has progressed, so has the interest in developing ways to collect data at a very fine scale-in essence, to be able to collect data at the streetscape level and link this data to transportation behavior. An article by Marc Schlossberg, Asha Weinstein, and Katja Irvin entitled An Assessment of GISenabled Walkability Audits examines the development and implementation of a GIS-based pedestrian audit tool that allows users to collect data in electronic form using a handheld computer. The paper, which highlights Volume 19, Number 2 of the URISA Journal, identifies current shortcomings with walkability audit tools but concludes that appropriately applying GIS-enabled pedestrian audit tools can be an efficient way to collect and quickly analyze pedestrian infrastructure characteristics so that planners, practitioners, policy makers, and community members can make more effective decisions. SUBMISSIONS: This publication accepts from authors an exclusive right of first publication to their article plus an accompanying grant of nonexclusive full rights. The publisher requires that full credit for first publication in the URISA Journal is provided in any subsequent electronic or print publications. For more information, the "Manuscript Submission Guidelines for Refereed Articles" is available on our website, www.urisa. org, or by calling (847) 824-6300. SUBSCRIPTION AND ADVERTISING: All correspondence about advertising, subscriptions, and URISA memberships should be directed to: Urban and Regional Information Systems Association, 1460 Renaissance Dr., Suite 305, Park Ridge, Illinois, 60068-1348; Voice (847) 824-6300; Fax (847) 824-6363; E-mail info@urisa.org.URISA Journal is published two times a year by the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association.© 2007 by the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use, or the internal or personal use of specific clients, is granted by permission of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association.Educational programs planned and presented by URISA provide attendees with relevant and rewarding continuing education experience. However, neither the content (whether written or oral) of any course, seminar, or other presentation, nor the use of a specific product in conjunction therewith, nor the exhibition of any materials by any party coincident with the educational event, should be construed as indicating endorsement or approval of the views presented, the products used, or the materials exhi...