Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #122021

Chanam Lee, PhD, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A &M University System Health Sciences Center, 1103 University Drive, Suite 203, College Station, TX 77840, 1111111111, jrsharkey@srph.tamhsc.edu

This presentation addresses conceptual and methodological issues in studying the built environment for healthy aging research. This presentation focuses on the objective measures of the built environment. The aims are to: (a) introduce methods to quantify the built environment, (b) discuss conceptual and theoretical bases, and (c) discuss methodological considerations.

The presentation uses a recent project on built environment and walking to illustrate how these conceptual and methodological issues can be addressed in an actual research project. This project employed a rigorous method to quantify the built environment, which included measurement, selection, and prioritization processes. Existing data and measurement tools, such as tax assessor's parcel, street network, trail, transit, park and open space data, and Geographic Information System (GIS) and environmental audit tools, served as important resources in capturing the built environment. Disaggregated, objectively-measured environmental variables facilitated translating research into policies and interventions.

The discussion on conceptual issues includes introduction of the Behavioral Model of Environment, definition of neighborhood boundary and its changeability, and examination of relevant urban design and planning theories. The discussion on methodological issues includes subjective versus objective measures, spatial scale, resolution, aggregation, spatial autocorrelation, boundary, and accessibility. The presentation concludes with recommendations to conceptualize and measure the built environment for future healthy living research.

Learning Objectives:

• tba

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation