Development and reliability of a streetscape observation instrument for international use: MAPS-global

Abstract

BackgroundRelationships between several built environment factors and physical activity and walking behavior are well established, but internationally-comparable built environment measures are lacking. The Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (MAPS)-Global is an observational measure of detailed streetscape features relevant to physical activity that was developed for international use. This study examined the inter-observer reliability of the instrument in five countries.MethodsMAPS-Global was developed by compiling concepts and items from eight environmental measures relevant to walking and bicycling. Inter-rater reliability data were collected in neighborhoods selected to vary on geographic information system (GIS)-derived macro-level walkability in five countries (Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Hong Kong-China, and Spain). MAPS-Global assessments (n = 325) were completed in person along a ≥ 0.25 mile route from a residence toward a non-residential destination, and a commercial block was also rated for each residence (n = 82). Two raters in each country rated each route independently. A tiered scoring system was created that summarized items at multiple levels of aggregation, and positive and negative valence scores were created based on the expected effect on physical activity. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was computed for scales and selected items using one-way random models.ResultsOverall, 86.6% of individual items and single item indicators showed excellent agreement (ICC ≥ 0.75), and 13.4% showed good agreement (ICC = 0.60–0.74). All subscales and overall summary scores showed excellent agreement. Six of 123 items were too rare to compute the ICC. The median ICC for items and scales was 0.92 with a range of 0.50–1.0. Aesthetics and social characteristics showed lower ICCs than other sub-scales, but reliabilities were still in the excellent range (ICC ≥ 0.75).ConclusionEvaluation of inter-observer reliability of MAPS-Global across five countries indicated all items and scales had “good” or “excellent” reliability. The results demonstrate that trained observers from multiple countries were able to reliably conduct observations of both residential and commercial areas with the new MAPS-Global instrument. Next steps are to evaluate construct validity in relation to physical activity in multiple countries and gain experience with using MAPS-Global for research and practice applications.

O Sistema de Informação Geográfica em pesquisas sobre ambiente, atividade física e saúde

“…Da mesma maneira, Lopes et al 16 avaliaram o ambiente comunitário das ruas e calçadas no entorno de parques e praças de Curitiba, Paraná. Atualmente, é possível ampliar o detalhamento de atributos do ambiente, passiveis de serem relacionados com atividade física e saúde, com o instrumento Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (MAPS) 44 . Ainda, para análises mais superficiais, o IBGE disponibiliza informações apenas sobre a proporção de presença de calçadas nos setores censitários.…”

School Neighbourhood Built Environment Assessment for Adolescents’ Active Transport to School: Modification of an Environmental Audit Tool and Protocol (MAPS Global-SN)

“…In contrast, micro-scale environmental data are usually quantified through observational environmental audit tools which assess attributes relevant to walking and cycling [31]. Environmental audit tools, for example, MAPS Global [32], PEDS [33] and SPACES [34], have typically been conducted in-person by physically navigating neighbourhood streets. However, considerable content heterogeneity exists between audit tools [31], as well as in protocols defining street sampling methods and neighbourhood boundaries for assessing the SN-BE e.g., [35][36][37].…”

“…The Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (MAPS) Global audit tool is among the latest developments in micro-scale built environment assessment and has been designed for international use, based on earlier tools [32]. This instrument reports generally high inter-rater reliability in different countries [32,38].…”

“…The Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (MAPS) Global audit tool is among the latest developments in micro-scale built environment assessment and has been designed for international use, based on earlier tools [32]. This instrument reports generally high inter-rater reliability in different countries [32,38]. MAPS Global has been designed to measure detailed streetscape features relevant to physical activity, drawing on concepts from previously developed questionnaires and audit tools to assess micro-and macro-scale environmental attributes along a participant's route (from home to destination).…”

“…MAPS Global has been designed to measure detailed streetscape features relevant to physical activity, drawing on concepts from previously developed questionnaires and audit tools to assess micro-and macro-scale environmental attributes along a participant's route (from home to destination). MAPS Global audit protocols have also been developed to enable micro-scale assessment of an entire neighbourhood [32], mainly the participant's home neighbourhood environment. However, as a proposed alternative to the time-and resource-intensive in-person audits often required for a neighbourhood, further research suggests sampling 25% of neighbourhood street segments (the road between two intersections) (i.e., within a 400 m radius) may be sufficient to represent the pedestrian environment [39].…”