IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ris/jtralu/0043.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • Ann Forsyth

    (Cornell University; United States)

  • Leslie Lytle

    (University of Minnestoa; United States)

  • David Van Riper

    (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

  • Ann Forsyth & Leslie Lytle & David Van Riper, 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

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.jtlu.org/index.php/jtlu/article/view/105/105
    File Function: Full text
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ann Forsyth & Mary Hearst & J. Michael Oakes & Kathryn H. Schmitz, 2008. "Design and Destinations: Factors Influencing Walking and Total Physical Activity," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 45(9), pages 1973-1996, August.
    2. Timmermans, Harry J.P. & Zhang, Junyi, 2009. "Modeling household activity travel behavior: Examples of state of the art modeling approaches and research agenda," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 187-190, February.
    3. Ong, P. & Graham, M. & Houston, D., 2006. "Policy and programmatic importance of spatial alignment of data sources," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(3), pages 499-504.
    4. Horowitz, C.R. & Colson, K.A. & Hebert, P.L. & Lancaster, K., 2004. "Barriers to buying healthy foods for people with diabetes: Evidence of environmental disparities," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(9), pages 1549-1554.
    5. Cervero, Robert & Radisch, Carolyn, 1996. "Travel choices in pedestrian versus automobile oriented neighborhoods," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 3(3), pages 127-141, July.
    6. Susan Handy & Kelly Clifton, 2001. "Local shopping as a strategy for reducing automobile travel," Transportation, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 317-346, November.
    7. Moore, L.V. & Diez Roux, A.V., 2006. "Associations of neighborhood characteristics with the location and type of food stores," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(2), pages 325-331.
    8. repec:mpr:mprres:3740 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Bhat, Chandra R., 1998. "Analysis of travel mode and departure time choice for urban shopping trips," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 361-371, August.
    10. Neil Wrigley & Daniel Warm & Barrie Margetts, 2003. "Deprivation, Diet, and Food-Retail Access: Findings from the Leeds ‘Food Deserts' Study," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 35(1), pages 151-188, January.
    11. Zenk, S.N. & Schulz, A.J. & Israel, B.A. & James, S.A. & Bao, S. & Wilson, M.L., 2005. "Neighborhood racial composition, neighborhood poverty, and the spatial accessibility of supermarkets in metropolitan Detroit," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 95(4), pages 660-667.
    12. Bhat, Chandra R. & Steed, Jennifer L., 2002. "A continuous-time model of departure time choice for urban shopping trips," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 207-224, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    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. repec:plo:pone00:0174859 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. 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.
    7. Guo, Jing & Brakewood, Candace, 2024. "Analysis of spatiotemporal transit accessibility and transit inequity of essential services in low-density cities, a case study of Nashville, TN," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).

    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. Dave Weatherspoon & James Oehmke & Assa Dembélé & Marcus Coleman & Thasanee Satimanon & Lorraine Weatherspoon, 2013. "Price and Expenditure Elasticities for Fresh Fruits in an Urban Food Desert," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 50(1), pages 88-106, January.
    2. Jarrett Thibodeaux, 2016. "City racial composition as a predictor of African American food deserts," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 53(11), pages 2238-2252, August.
    3. Wendt, Minh & Kinsey, Jean D. & Kaufman, Phillip R., 2008. "Food Accessibility in the Inner City: What Have We Learned, A Literature Review 1963-2006," Working Papers 37625, University of Minnesota, The Food Industry Center.
    4. Lee, Helen, 2012. "The role of local food availability in explaining obesity risk among young school-aged children," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(8), pages 1193-1203.
    5. Michael D. M. Bader & Marnie Purciel & Paulette Yousefzadeh & Kathryn M. Neckerman, 2010. "Disparities in Neighborhood Food Environments: Implications of Measurement Strategies," Economic Geography, Clark University, vol. 86(4), pages 409-430, October.
    6. Chen, Duan-Rung & Wen, Tzai-Hung, 2010. "Socio-spatial patterns of neighborhood effects on adult obesity in Taiwan: A multi-level model," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(6), pages 823-833, March.
    7. Andrew Daly & Stephane Hess & Geoff Hyman & John Polak & Charlene Rohr, 2005. "Modelling departure time and mode choice," ERSA conference papers ersa05p688, European Regional Science Association.
    8. repec:plo:pone00:0043000 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Joshua Wang & Eric J Miller, 2014. "A Prism-Based and Gap-Based Approach to Shopping Location Choice," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 41(6), pages 977-1005, December.
    10. Cui, Yuchen & Mishra, Sabyasachee & Welch, Timothy F., 2014. "Land use effects on bicycle ridership: a framework for state planning agencies," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 220-228.
    11. Cauchi, Daniel & Pliakas, Triantafyllos & Knai, Cécile, 2017. "Food environments in Malta: Associations with store size and area-level deprivation," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 39-47.
    12. Dorceta E. Taylor & Katherine Allison & Tevin Hamilton & Ashley Bell, 2023. "Race, Socioeconomic Status, and Food Access in Two Predominantly White Cities: The Case of Lansing, East Lansing, and Surrounding Townships in Michigan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-49, October.
    13. Sallis, James F. & Frank, Lawrence D. & Saelens, Brian E. & Kraft, M. Katherine, 2004. "Active transportation and physical activity: opportunities for collaboration on transportation and public health research," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 249-268, May.
    14. Changlong Sun & Yongli Zhang & Wenwen Ma & Rong Wu & Shaojian Wang, 2022. "The Impacts of Urban Form on Carbon Emissions: A Comprehensive Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-20, August.
    15. Ehmke, Mariah D. & Willson, Tina M. & Schroeter, Christiane & Hart, Ann Marie & Coupal, Roger H., 2009. "Obesity Economics for the Western United States," Western Economics Forum, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 8(2), pages 1-13.
    16. Susan Chen & Raymond J. G. M. Florax & Samantha Snyder & Christopher C. Miller, 2010. "Obesity and Access to Chain Grocers," Economic Geography, Clark University, vol. 86(4), pages 431-452, October.
    17. Kathryn Freeman Anderson, 2018. "Racial/Ethnic Residential Segregation, the Distribution of Physician’s Offices and Access to Health Care: The Case of Houston, Texas," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-18, July.
    18. Ke Wang & Xin Ye & Jie Ma, 2018. "An empirical analysis of post-work grocery shopping activity duration using modified accelerated failure time model to differentiate time-dependent and time-independent covariates," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, November.
    19. Amin, Modhurima Dey & Badruddoza, Syed & McCluskey, Jill J., 2021. "Predicting access to healthful food retailers with machine learning," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    20. Deka, Devajyoti, 2013. "An explanation of the relationship between adults’ work trip mode and children’s school trip mode through the Heckman approach," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 54-63.
    21. Kristen Cooksey-Stowers & Marlene B. Schwartz & Kelly D. Brownell, 2017. "Food Swamps Predict Obesity Rates Better Than Food Deserts in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-20, November.

    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

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:ris:jtralu:0043. 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: Arlene Mathison (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/ctumnus.html .

    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.