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Integrated Impact Assessment of Active Travel: Expanding the Scope of the Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) for Walking and Cycling

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Götschi

    (School of Planning, Public Policy and Management, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA)

  • Sonja Kahlmeier

    (Department of Health, Swiss Distance University of Applied Science (FFHS), CH-8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland)

  • Alberto Castro

    (Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, CH-8001 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Christian Brand

    (Transport Studies Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK)

  • Nick Cavill

    (Centre for Exercise, Nutrition & Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TZ, UK)

  • Paul Kelly

    (Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AQ, UK)

  • Christoph Lieb

    (Ecoplan AG, CH-3011 Bern, Switzerland)

  • David Rojas-Rueda

    (Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA)

  • James Woodcock

    (Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK)

  • Francesca Racioppi

    (WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany)

Abstract

The World Health Organization’s Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) for walking and cycling is a user-friendly web-based tool to assess the health impacts of active travel. HEAT, developed over 10 years ago, has been used by researchers, planners and policymakers alike in appraisals of walking and cycling policies at both national and more local scales. HEAT has undergone regular upgrades adopting the latest scientific evidence. This article presents the most recent upgrades of the tool. The health impacts of walking and/or cycling in a specified population are quantified in terms of premature deaths avoided (or caused). In addition to the calculation of benefits derived from physical activity, HEAT was recently expanded to include assessments of the burden associated with air pollution exposure and crash risks while walking or cycling. Further, the impacts on carbon emissions from mode shifts to active travel modes can now be assessed. The monetization of impacts using Value of Statistical Life and Social Costs of Carbon now uses country-specific values. As active travel inherently results in often substantial health benefits as well as not always negligible risks, assessments of active travel behavior or policies are incomplete without considering health implications. The recent developments of HEAT make it easier than ever to obtain ballpark estimates of health impacts and carbon emissions related to walking and cycling.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Götschi & Sonja Kahlmeier & Alberto Castro & Christian Brand & Nick Cavill & Paul Kelly & Christoph Lieb & David Rojas-Rueda & James Woodcock & Francesca Racioppi, 2020. "Integrated Impact Assessment of Active Travel: Expanding the Scope of the Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) for Walking and Cycling," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-19, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:20:p:7361-:d:425339
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brown, Vicki & Diomedi, Belen Zapata & Moodie, Marj & Veerman, J. Lennert & Carter, Rob, 2016. "A systematic review of economic analyses of active transport interventions that include physical activity benefits," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 190-208.
    2. Alberto Castro & Sonja Kahlmeier & Thomas Gotschi, 2018. "Exposure-Adjusted Road Fatality Rates for Cycling and Walking in European Countries," International Transport Forum Discussion Papers 2018/05, OECD Publishing.
    3. Brand, Christian & Goodman, Anna & Ogilvie, David, 2014. "Evaluating the impacts of new walking and cycling infrastructure on carbon dioxide emissions from motorized travel: A controlled longitudinal study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 284-295.
    4. Ronan Doorley & Vikram Pakrashi & Bidisha Ghosh, 2015. "Quantifying the Health Impacts of Active Travel: Assessment of Methodologies," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(5), pages 559-582, September.
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    2. Brand, C. & Marsden, G. & Anable, J.L. & Dixon, J. & Barrett, J., 2025. "Achieving deep transport energy demand reductions in the United Kingdom," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    3. Andrew F. Clark & Melissa Thomas & Adrian Buttazzoni & Matthew Adams & Stephanie E. Coen & Jamie Seabrook & Danielle Tobin & Trish Tucker & Jason Gilliland, 2023. "Validating the Perceived Active School Travel Enablers and Barriers–Parent (PASTEB–P) Questionnaire to Support Intervention Programming and Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-23, May.

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