IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i3p1483-d736654.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Application of Walkability Index for Older Adults’ Health in the Brazilian Context: The Case of Vitória-ES, Brazil

Author

Listed:
  • Daniella do Amaral Mello Bonatto

    (Department of Architecture and Urbanism, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória 29055-310, Brazil)

  • Fernando Brandão Alves

    (CITTA, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal)

Abstract

This study follows up on the article ‘Walkability Index for Elderly Health: A Proposal’, published in 2020, as well its validation in the Historic Center of Porto, published in 2021. The 2020 article presented the theoretical and methodological bases relating qualities of public spaces, the walkability of older adults, and the direct benefits on health. The 2021 article validated the applicability of the index in the Historic Center of Porto, Portugal. Both articles incorporated the factor ‘slope’, solving a criticism evidenced in related literature about the slope being ignored in older adults’ walking conditions studies. The present study, however, aims to validate the conceptual design of the Walkability Index for Elderly Health (WIEH) in the Brazilian context at the historic center of Vitória. The methodology included the analysis and evaluation of public spaces regarding the pedestrian network—urban fabric, urban scene, and safety—and the presence of slopes and/or stairways. Subsequently, these spaces were classified according to the WIEH, ascertaining their level of adequacy for older adults’ walkability. The results show that paths friendly to older adults are rare and that the problems encountered focus primarily on the low quality of the pedestrian network and not on the existence of slopes and stairways.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniella do Amaral Mello Bonatto & Fernando Brandão Alves, 2022. "Application of Walkability Index for Older Adults’ Health in the Brazilian Context: The Case of Vitória-ES, Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-25, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1483-:d:736654
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1483/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1483/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fernando Alves & Sara Cruz & Anabela Ribeiro & Ana Bastos Silva & João Martins & Inês Cunha, 2020. "Walkability Index for Elderly Health: A Proposal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-27, September.
    2. Fernando Alves & Sara Cruz & Sophia Rother & Tino Strunk, 2021. "An Application of the Walkability Index for Elderly Health—WIEH. The Case of the UNESCO Historic Centre of Porto, Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Fen Zeng & Zhenjiang Shen, 2020. "Study on the Impact of Historic District Built Environment and Its Influence on Residents’ Walking Trips: A Case Study of Zhangzhou Ancient City’s Historic District," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Kaniz Fatima & Sara Moridpour & Chris De Gruyter & Tayebeh Saghapour, 2020. "Elderly Sustainable Mobility: Scientific Paper Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-17, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kaniz Fatima & Sara Moridpour & Tayebeh Saghapour, 2022. "Measuring Neighbourhood Walking Access for Older Adults," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-21, October.
    2. Fernando Alves & Sara Cruz & Sophia Rother & Tino Strunk, 2021. "An Application of the Walkability Index for Elderly Health—WIEH. The Case of the UNESCO Historic Centre of Porto, Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Fernando Fonseca & Escolástica Fernandes & Rui Ramos, 2022. "Walkable Cities: Using the Smart Pedestrian Net Method for Evaluating a Pedestrian Network in Guimarães, Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-23, August.
    4. Bartzokas-Tsiompras, Alexandros & Bakogiannis, Efthimios & Nikitas, Alexandros, 2023. "Global microscale walkability ratings and rankings: A novel composite indicator for 59 European city centres," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    5. Renato Soares & Helena Corvacho & Fernando Alves, 2021. "Summer Thermal Conditions in Outdoor Public Spaces: A Case Study in a Mediterranean Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-26, May.
    6. Varameth Vichiensan & Kazuki Nakamura, 2021. "Walkability Perception in Asian Cities: A Comparative Study in Bangkok and Nagoya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-22, June.
    7. Zhe Wang & Mardelle Shepley, 2022. "The Relationship of Neighborhood Walking Behavior to Duration of Aging in Place—A Retrospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-13, December.
    8. Tomasz Wojciech Szulc & Grzegorz Krawczyk & Seweryn Tchórzewski, 2021. "Models of Delivery of Sustainable Public Transportation Services in Metropolitan Areas–Comparison of Conventional, Battery Powered and Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Drives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-14, November.
    9. Miguel Lopes & Fernando Alves, 2021. "Digital Tools to Foster Inclusiveness: Porto’s System of Accessible Itineraries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, May.
    10. Kaniz Fatima & Sara Moridpour & Tayebeh Saghapour, 2021. "Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Elderly Public Transport Mode Preference," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-15, April.
    11. Maciej Tarkowski & Krystian Puzdrakiewicz, 2021. "Connectivity Benefits of Small Zero-Emission Autonomous Ferries in Urban Mobility—Case of the Coastal City of Gdańsk (Poland)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-13, November.
    12. Poklewski-Koziełł, Damian & Dudzic-Gyurkovich, Karolina & Duarte, Carlos Marmolejo, 2023. "Investigating urban form, and walkability measures in the new developments. The case study of Garnizon in Gdansk," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    13. Siyu Jiang & Jiang Liu, 2024. "Comparative Study of Cultural Landscape Perception in Historic Districts from the Perspectives of Tourists and Residents," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-22, March.
    14. Urbanek, Anna & Acedański, Jan & Krawczyk, Grzegorz, 2023. "Depopulation or ageing? Decomposing the aggregate effects of projected demographic changes on urban transport systems," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    15. Kwang-Sub Lee & Jin Ki Eom & Jun Lee & Sangpil Ko, 2021. "Analysis of the Activity and Travel Patterns of the Elderly Using Mobile Phone-Based Hourly Locational Trajectory Data: Case Study of Gangnam, Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-23, March.
    16. Dadashzadeh, Nima & Woods, Lee & Ouelhadj, Djamila & Thomopoulos, Nikolas & Kamargianni, Maria & Antoniou, Constantinos, 2022. "Mobility as a Service Inclusion Index (MaaSINI): Evaluation of inclusivity in MaaS systems and policy recommendations," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 191-202.
    17. Joanna Miklinska, 2023. "Selected Urban Mobility Issues of the Elderly:The Polish Experience," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 904-920.
    18. Tiziana Campisi & Socrates Basbas & Giovanni Tesoriere & Mirto Trouva & Thomas Papas & Iva Mrak, 2020. "How to Create Walking Friendly Cities. A Multi-Criteria Analysis of the Central Open Market Area of Rijeka," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-20, November.
    19. Maljaee, Seyedeh Sara & Khadem Sameni, Melody, 2022. "Investigating factors affecting university students' use of subway before and after COVID-19 outbreak: A case study in Tehran," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    20. Nur Farhana Mohammed Noor & Hayati Kadir Shahar & Tengku Aizan Hamid & Zumilah Zainalaludin & Siti Anom Ahmad & Fakhrul Zaman Rokhani & Norsidah Ujang & Irwan Syah Md Yusoff & Siti Aisyah Nor Akahbar, 2022. "Understanding Travel Behavior and Sustainability of Current Transportation System for Older Adults in Malaysia: A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-14, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1483-:d:736654. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.