Investigating the Implications of Using Alternative GIS-Based Techniques to Measure Accessibility to Green Space

Abstract

A large body of research has examined relationships between accessibility to green space and a variety of health outcomes with many researchers finding benefits in terms of levels of physical activity and relationships with levels of obesity, mental health, and other health conditions. Such studies often use spatial analytical techniques to examine relationships between distance to such spaces and health data collated at an individual survey respondent's home address or, more commonly, derived from area-based census measures summarised at a centroid. Generally, such measures are becoming more sophisticated and have moved on from the use of straightforward Euclidean-based measures to those based on network distance. However, few studies tend to use a combination of approaches or seek to establish the implications of incorporating alternative measures of accessibility on potential relationships. Using a database of green spaces (and associated attributes) and a detailed network dataset for the city of Cardiff, Wales, we examine the sensitivity of findings to the ways in which different metrics are calculated. This is illustrated by examining the variations in association between such metrics and a census-based deprivation index widely used in health studies to measure socioeconomic conditions. Our findings demonstrate that not only will the distances to green spaces vary according to the methodologies adopted but that any study that aims to investigate relationships with attributes of the nearest green space should acknowledge that matches may vary widely according to the techniques used. We conclude by warning against the use of inappropriate methodologies in examining access to green space which may directly influence directions (and levels) of association and hence may limit their relevance in wider geographical contexts.

Territorial cohesion impacts of high-speed rail under different zoning systems

“…The advisability of this analysis is borne out by recent research pieces on the implications of MAUP in accessibility studies (see e.g. De Palma et al (2007), Higgs et al (2012), Langford and Higgs (2006), Ortega et al (2012) and Yang (2006)). The research in this paper follows this approach and includes this analysis of sensitivity to alternative zoning systems.…”

“…Most of these studies evaluate cohesion impacts of HSR using spatial analysis tools to assess changes in the spatial distribution of accessibility. These studies compute the accessibility indicators by applying the latest spatial analysis techniques, generally implemented in Geographic Information Systems (CIS) (Higgs et al, 2012;Scott, 2004: Paez et al, 2012).…”

Evaluating the Evacuation and Rescue Capabilities of Urban Open Space from a Land Use Perspective: A Case Study in Wuhan, China

“…The points used to represent the origin and destination influence the results of accessibility calculation and should be carefully considered [49]. Higgs et al adopted boundary points, access points, and centroids as representatives of green space polygons.…”

“…In this study, the open spaces without fences were represented by the nearest Euclidean point on the boundary. The nearest access points denote the locations of open spaces with fences [49]. Communities and rescue facilities were represented by geometric centroids.…”

Development of an Evaluation System for Parks in Neighborhood Communities

“…Barbosa et al (2007) highlights the need for additional green space to be a created and existing green space to be protected in light of increasing development pressure. Systematic conservation planning techniques have been applied in many areas around the world (Herzele et al 2003;Higgs et al 2012). Applying systematic conservation planning in human dominated landscapes poses significant challenges, including the need to address multiple objectives, the likelihood that many priority areas will not be available for conservation and may degrade and alter in their availability over time.…”