Using GPS technology to (re)-examine operational definitions of ‘neighbourhood’ in place-based health research

Abstract

BackgroundInconsistencies in research findings on the impact of the built environment on walking across the life course may be methodologically driven. Commonly used methods to define ‘neighbourhood’, from which built environment variables are measured, may not accurately represent the spatial extent to which the behaviour in question occurs. This paper aims to provide new methods for spatially defining ‘neighbourhood’ based on how people use their surrounding environment.ResultsInformed by Global Positioning Systems (GPS) tracking data, several alternative neighbourhood delineation techniques were examined (i.e., variable width, convex hull and standard deviation buffers). Compared with traditionally used buffers (i.e., circular and polygon network), differences were found in built environment characteristics within the newly created ‘neighbourhoods’. Model fit statistics indicated that exposure measures derived from alternative buffering techniques provided a better fit when examining the relationship between land-use and walking for transport or leisure.ConclusionsThis research identifies how changes in the spatial extent from which built environment measures are derived may influence walking behaviour. Buffer size and orientation influences the relationship between built environment measures and walking for leisure in older adults. The use of GPS data proved suitable for re-examining operational definitions of neighbourhood.

The Neighbourhood Physical Environment and Active Travel in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…In fact, not much is known about the optimal mix and number of destination types that might promote AT in this age group. Also, objective measures of destination availability are typically obtained for whole administrative areas [88][89][90][91] or home-centred buffers of various sizes [33,92,93], while self-report measures usually define a neighbourhood as an area within 10-20 min walk from a participant's home [58,94,95]. Given that there is large inter-individual variability in functional mobility and walking speed among older adults [96], defining a neighbourhood using time as a parameter (as in self-report measures) may be more appropriate for this age group than defining it in terms of distance (as in objective measures of the environment).…”

A Child’s View: Social and Physical Environmental Features Differentially Predict Parent and Child Perceived Neighborhood Safety

“…A road network buffer may be preferable for specific walking or driving-related outcomes (e.g., active transportation). 34 However, individuals can be aware of a much broader area surrounding their household than the immediate road network, and these broader exposure areas may be important in explaining perceptions and experiences. 35 Therefore, this study used a 1-km circular buffer for variables obtained from a spatial data infrastructure and a 500-m walking network for in-person neighborhood audits.…”

Associations between time spent in green areas and physical activity among late middle-aged adults

“…A distance of 1000 m coincides with a 10-15 minute walk and is internationally used as the neighbourhood boundary (Frank et al, 2005;Oliver et al, 2007;Bauman and Bull, 2007;Lovasi et al, 2008;Boruff et al, 2012).…”