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Finding food: Issues and challenges in using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to measure food access

Author

Listed:
  • Forsyth, Ann

    (Cornell University; United States)

  • Lytle, Leslie

    (University of Minnestoa; United States)

  • Van Riper, David

    (University of Minnesota)

Abstract

A significant amount of travel is to find food. This paper examines challenges in measuring access to food using GIS, of importance in studies of both travel and eating behavior. It compares different sources of data available including fieldwork, land use and parcel data, licensing information, commercial listings, taxation data, and online street-level photographs. It proposes how to classify different kinds of food sales places in a way that says something about their potential for delivering healthy food options. Analysts need to clearly conceptualize key variables, document measurement processes, and be clear about the strengths and weaknesses of data.

Suggested Citation

  • Forsyth, Ann & Lytle, Leslie & Van Riper, David, 2010. "Finding food: Issues and challenges in using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to measure food access," The Journal of Transport and Land Use, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, vol. 3(1), pages 43-65.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:jtralu:0043
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Moore, Travis & Bakken, Lori L. & Wallace, Bakari, 2019. "The importance of systems thinking, context, and inclusion when studying the feasibility of expanding the FoodShare (SNAP) outreach program to rural communities of Northern Wisconsin," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 10-17.
    2. Cesare Canalia & Maria Gabriela M. Pinho & Jeroen Lakerveld & Joreintje D. Mackenbach, 2020. "Field Validation of Commercially Available Food Retailer Data in the Netherlands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Jason Y. Scully & Anne Vernez Moudon & Philip M. Hurvitz & Anju Aggarwal & Adam Drewnowski, 2019. "A Time-Based Objective Measure of Exposure to the Food Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-14, April.
    4. Mengying Cui & David Levinson, 2020. "Multi-Activity Access: How Activity Choice Affects Opportunity," Working Papers 2022-01, University of Minnesota: Nexus Research Group.
    5. Hirsch, Jana A. & Grengs, Joe & Schulz, Amy & Adar, Sara D. & Rodriguez, Daniel A. & Brines, Shannon J. & Diez Roux, Ana V., 2016. "How much are built environments changing, and where?: Patterns of change by neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics across seven U.S. metropolitan areas," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 97-105.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Food; GIS; Access;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R40 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - General

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