Examining Urban environment correlates of childhood physical activity and walkability perception with GIS and remote sensing

Abstract

Emerging research suggests that the built environment has potential to influence physical activity which, in turn, can have a protective effect against obesity and a positive impact on public health (Berrigan and Troiano, 2002; Atkinson et al., 2005). As a result, research on the association between the built environment and health is receiving increased attention in a variety of disciplines. Most research on the associations between the built environment and physical activity to date has focused on adults, but the potential links in children are largely unexplored. The present study examines how GIS and remote sensing can be used to enhance understanding of the relationships between physical activity and the built environ ment for a cohort of children from low-income urban neighborhoods in Indianapolis, Indiana. © 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.