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

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.