title: Obtaining Longitudinal Built Environment Data Retrospectively across 25 years in Four US Cities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neighborhood transportation infrastructure and public recreational facilities are theorized to improve the activity, weight, and cardiometabolic profiles of individuals living in close proximity to these resources. However, owing to data limitations, there has not been adequate study of the influence of timing and placement of new infrastructure on health over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  This protocol details methods of the four cities study to perform retrospective field audits in order to capitalize on existing longitudinal health data from the coronary artery risk development in young adults (CARDIA) study. We developed and verified measures of recreation facilities (trails, parks) and transportation infrastructure (bus, light rail, bicycle parking, bicycle paths) in Birmingham, AL; Chicago, IL; Minneapolis, MN; and Oakland, CA (USA). We identify introductions, renovations, and closures between 1985 and 2010 to develop measures of facility and infrastructure change. Ultimately, these data were linked to CARDIA sites' respondents' geographic locations over the 25-year study period to examine associations with health behaviors and outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data available for retrospective audits was inconsistent by city, primarily due to record-keeping differences. We found large increases in bicycle infrastructure, with the exception of Birmingham, AL, USA. Excluding the addition of a new rail line in Minneapolis, MN, USA, few changes occurred in bus service, rail, and parks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our method represents innovation toward the collection of retrospective neighborhood data for use in longitudinal analyses. The data produced give insight into the way neighborhood infrastructure has changed over time and the potential relationship between these changes and health behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC , USA.
authors.forename: Jana A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC , USA.
authors.forename: Katie A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC , USA.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.affiliation: Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC , USA.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC , USA.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC , USA.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC , USA.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC , USA.
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gordon-Larsen
keywords: GIS; community design; field audit; infrastructure; longitudinal; methods; parks; transportation