webwalk: walking behavior on campus

WebWalk: walking behavior on campus

Craig Zimring, Ph.D. Georgia Institute of Technology, College of Architecture September 5, 2007 Status Update [email protected]

WebWalk Project |Status Meeting Sept. ’07

Research Purpose

How are path characteristics related to route selection on corporate campuses?

Develop tools…Environmental AuditSoftware/DatabaseSurvey/Focus Group Guide

Develop initial understanding based on…PleasureComfortSafety


Project Staff

Research Team:Craig M Zimring, Ph.D.Julie Gazmararian, MPH, Ph.D.Mahbub Rashid, Ph.D., AIAPhillip B. Sparling, Ed.D., FACSMSheila Bosch, Ph.D.Michael Herndon, M.S.Sharon Tsepas, M. ArchLu Yi, M. Arch

Advisory Committee:Jeffrey Koplan, M.D., MPHKenneth E. Powell, M.D.Philippe C. Dordai, AIA


Literature Review

Environmental factors can influence path choice Path characteristics may induce people to walk further than they would otherwise

Hoogendoorn SP, Bovy 2002 Joseph A, Zimring C, 2007Zimring, C et al, 2005


Environmental Audit: Introduction

Describes physical attributes of path segments:

SafetyComfortPleasurably

3

1

2


Environmental Audit: Genesis

Irvine-Minnesota Inventory (Boarnet, et al., 2006; Day, et al., 2005; Day, et al., 2006)

SPACES Tool (Systematic Pedestrian and Cycling Environmental Scan): University of Western Australia

Path Environment Audit Tool (Troped, et al., 2006)


Environmental Audit: Introduction

Examples:Path MaterialPath WidthPresence of Benches, etc.Presence of Food/Coffee ShopsQuality/Type of LandscapeBuilding MaintenanceSurveillance from BuildingsPresence of LitterPresence of Fountains/BridgesPresence of Shading


Environmental Audit: Interrater Reliability

Interrater reliability vitalProcess

Paths had wide array of characteristicsA lack of applicable standards

MeasurementCohen’s Kappa (Cohen, 1960; Troped, et al., 2006; McGinn, et al. 2004)

K > .60

Percent Agreement (Boarnet, et al., 2006)

P > 80% Agreement


Audit Tool: Inter-rater Reliability

Version One – developed at Georgia Tech, informed by visits to other sites.Originally Low

Examined data entry Refined audit formRevisited segmentsRated photographs (Picasaweb)Revised questions

Revisited GA Tech campusReviewed 30 segments at Bellsouth (Atlanta, GA)Planned trip to Kimberly-Clark campus (Roswell, GA)


Environmental Audit: Tool

28 Questionsmultiple subparts

Designed to be used on every segment on siteFuture versions may use hand-held electronic form

reduce data entry timereduce possible errors


Environmental Audit: Training Protocol

52-slide PowerPoint presentationIncludes quizzes14-page long form (Day, et al. 2005)Supervised rating period


WebWalk Software: Introduction

PURPOSE OF THIS SOFTWAREBased on Scalable Vector Graphics and JavaScript

SVG JavaScript


WebWalk Software

Initial LoginOne time survey

Subsequent LoginsPath selectionEvery-time survey


One Time Survey

Based on IPAQ:Physical activity

Also asks about:Beliefs about physical activityDemographicsJob ClassificationLength of Time at Company/Campus


WebWalk Software


Every Time Survey

Date and TimeIntensityPurpose of Trip

work-relatedpersonalcombination


WebWalk Software

Web-based Application

Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)JavaScript/PHPInternet ExplorerMySQL Server


Develop .SVG Map from Plans

Created with GIS SoftwareBest done from CAD plansCan be done from overhead imageryOn-campus visit highly recommended


Data Analysis

Segment ScoresPleasureComfortSafety

Both Local and Relational ScoresCorrelate Scores with Route Choice


Data Analysis: Assumptions

Building A Building B




No Possible Conclusion




Possible Conclusion



“Shortest” routeMetric Shortest DistanceLowest angular turnsMost Integrated Paths (Space Syntax)

“Shortest” route may be 1 to 3 routesAnalysis will only examine environmental characteristic causality when routes chosen are not the “shortest.”


Data Analysis

Primary AnalysisRoute Choice Based on:

SafetyComfortPleasureability

Secondary AnalysisRoute choice preferences based on demographic/job type Differences in route choice based on time

avoiding non-shaded paths during mid-dayavoiding less safe paths early and late in day

Route choice based on different types of buildingsMore leisurely routes from/to cafeteria, gym

Create weighted or modified route scores


Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia TechAtlanta, GAFull time faculty, staff, graduate studentsOver 30 buildingsOver 500 path segmentsFinal usability test in progress


United Parcel Service

UPS World HeadquartersAtlanta, GAEnvironmental Audit late September ‘07


Sprint/Nextel Corporation

Sprint National Headquarters

Overland Park, KSEnvironmental Audit late September ‘07


Hypotheses/Questions

Relatively homogenous physical characteristics will play little role in route choice on Work-related trips once certain threshold levels have been reached.

Route choice on trips taken for Personal or Combination reasons will show more evidence of being influenced by path characteristics.

The presence of amenities, high quality landscaping, and other “pleasureable” factors will be highly correlated with the shortest paths between buildings; this correlation can be explained by the ability of planners and/or designers to anticipate the use of various paths.


Conclusion

Thank you…Craig ZimringGeorgia Tech College of [email protected]


References

Boarnet MG, Day K, Alfonzo M, Forsyth A, Oakes M. The Irvine-Minnesota Inventory to Measure Built Environments Reliability Tests Am J Prev Med 2006;30(2):153-159.Cohen J. A Coefficient of Agreement for Nominal Scales, Env and Psych Meas, 1960;20(1):37-46.Day K, Boarnet M, Alfonzo M. Irvine Minnesota Inventory for Observation of Physical Environment Features Linked to Physical Activity. Codebook. 2005.Day K, Boarnet M, Alfonzo M, Forsyth A. The Irvine-Minnesota Inventory to Measure Built Environments Development. Am J Prev Med 2006;30(2):144-152.Hoogendoorn SP, Bovy PHL. Pedestrian route-choice and activity scheduling theory and models. Transportation Research B 2002Joseph A, Zimring C. Where Active Older Adults Walk. Environment and Behavior 2007;39(1):75-105.McGinn T, Wyer PC, Newman TB, Keitz S, Leipzig R, Guyatt G. Tips for learners of evidence-based medicine: 3. Measures of observer variability (kappa statistic). CMAJ, 2004;171(11):1369-1373.Pikora T. Systematic Pedestrian and Cycling Environmental Scan (SPACES), Survey of the Physical Environment in Local Neighborhoods: Observer's Manual. Nedlands, Western Australia: University of Western Australia; 2002. Troped PJ, Cromley EK, Fragala MS, Melly SJ, Hasbrouck HH, Gortmaker SL, Brownson RC. Development and Validity Testing of an Audit Tool for Trail/Path Characteristics: The Path Environment Audit Tool (PEAT). J of Phys Act and Health 2006;Sup1:S158-S175.Zimring C, Joseph A, Nicoll GL, Tsepas S. Influences of building design and site design on physical activity: Research and intervention opportunities. Am J Prev Med 2005;28(2, Supplement 2), 186-193.

webwalk: walking behavior on campus

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