Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 6.10 Social Sciences
Presentation #1 Title
Walking Score Matrix for Two Appalachian Communities in West Virginia
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Walking Scores are used to measure locational walkability within communities. Normally these walking scores use Euclidean distance (crow fly distance) to measure between a location and nearby walkable amenities. The scores generated by walking score analysis are used by health officials to promote healthy life styles, real estate agents to market housing units, developers to measure pedestrian foot traffic, and community planners for the measurement of quantity and viability of communities. The walkability scores are also useful in community research. The existing walking score matrixes, however, do not work well for the analysis of the walkability of rural communities. Differences between urban and rural community’s life styles, lack of sidewalks, and the slope of mountainous terrain are all an impedance to the calculation of walking scores in rural areas. During the course of our research into childhood obesity in Kanawha and Monongahela Counties in West Virginia we have developed a walking score matrix that reflects the walkability of these communities. This matrix takes into account the terrain in which both the urban and rural residents live and calculates amenities that are reflective of the community lifestyles.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Mark Middleton is a Graduate Research Assistant, At West Virginia University, Regional Research Institute. His B.A is from Berea College, MA in Applied Sociology, West Virginia University and is currently a candidate for a Ph.D. in Human and Community Development, Agricultural and Resource Economics, West Virginia University
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Susan Partington is a Associate Professor of Human Nutrition and Foods Graduate Dietetic Internship Director and a Faculty Research Associate at West Virginia University, Regional Research Institute. Susan has here B.S. from B.S. University of California, Berkeley and Ph.D. University of Wisconsin, Madison
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Donald J. Lacombe is a Research Associate Professor, joint appointments with: West Virginia University Regional Research Institute, West Virginia University Department of Economics, and West Virginia University Division of Resource Management, 2009 – present. Ph.D., Economics, Florida State University, 2000
Walking Score Matrix for Two Appalachian Communities in West Virginia
Harris Hall 446
Walking Scores are used to measure locational walkability within communities. Normally these walking scores use Euclidean distance (crow fly distance) to measure between a location and nearby walkable amenities. The scores generated by walking score analysis are used by health officials to promote healthy life styles, real estate agents to market housing units, developers to measure pedestrian foot traffic, and community planners for the measurement of quantity and viability of communities. The walkability scores are also useful in community research. The existing walking score matrixes, however, do not work well for the analysis of the walkability of rural communities. Differences between urban and rural community’s life styles, lack of sidewalks, and the slope of mountainous terrain are all an impedance to the calculation of walking scores in rural areas. During the course of our research into childhood obesity in Kanawha and Monongahela Counties in West Virginia we have developed a walking score matrix that reflects the walkability of these communities. This matrix takes into account the terrain in which both the urban and rural residents live and calculates amenities that are reflective of the community lifestyles.
