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The Quality of Urban Environments: Mapping Variation in Access to Community Resources

Author

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  • Karen Witten

    (Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Massey University, PO Box 6137, Wellesley Street, Auckland, New Zealand. k.witten@massey.ac.nz)

  • Daniel Exeter

    (School of Geography and Geosciences, St Andrews University, St Andrews, UK. d.exeter@st-andrews.ac.uk)

  • Adrian Field

    (Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Massey University, PO Box 6137, Wellesley Street, Auckland, New Zealand. field@massey.ac.nz)

Abstract

This paper describes the development of an area-based index of locational access to community services, facilities and amenities. The index enables comparisons to be made across urban neighbourhoods and provides a starting-point from which to identify relationships between opportunity structures in the local environment and residents' health and well-being. The index is based on six domains: recreational amenities, public transport and communication, shopping and banking facilities, educational services, health services, and social and cultural services. The inclusion of specific resources was determined by their relevance to the daily lives of parents/caregivers of young children. However, the methodology has applicability to diverse population groups. Construction of the index, using geographical information systems, and its potential use for locality-based policy and planning are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Karen Witten & Daniel Exeter & Adrian Field, 2003. "The Quality of Urban Environments: Mapping Variation in Access to Community Resources," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 40(1), pages 161-177, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:40:y:2003:i:1:p:161-177
    DOI: 10.1080/00420980220080221
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    1. Jinxia Zhu & Qian Xu & Yi Pan & Lefeng Qiu & Yi Peng & Haijun Bao, 2018. "Land-Acquisition and Resettlement (LAR) Conflicts: A Perspective of Spatial Injustice of Urban Public Resources Allocation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Bernard, Paul & Charafeddine, Rana & Frohlich, Katherine L. & Daniel, Mark & Kestens, Yan & Potvin, Louise, 2007. "Health inequalities and place: A theoretical conception of neighbourhood," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(9), pages 1839-1852, November.
    3. Pearce, Jamie R. & Richardson, Elizabeth A. & Mitchell, Richard J. & Shortt, Niamh K., 2011. "Environmental justice and health: A study of multiple environmental deprivation and geographical inequalities in health in New Zealand," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(3), pages 410-420, August.
    4. Wang, Chih-Hao & Chen, Na, 2017. "A geographically weighted regression approach to investigating the spatially varied built-environment effects on community opportunity," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 136-147.

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