title: Walkability and walking for transport: characterizing the built environment using space syntax.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neighborhood walkability has been shown to be associated with walking behavior. However, the availability of geographical data necessary to construct it remains a limitation. Building on the concept of space syntax, we propose an alternative walkability index, space syntax walkability (SSW). This study examined associations of the full walkability index and SSW with walking for transport (WT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected in 2003-2004 from 2544 adults living in 154 Census Collection Districts (CCD) in Adelaide, Australia. Participants reported past week WT frequency. Full walkability (consisting of net residential density, intersection density, land use mix, and net retail area ratio) and SSW (consisting of gross population density and a space syntax measure of street integration) were calculated for each CCD using geographic information systems and space syntax software. Generalized linear models with negative binomial variance and logarithmic link functions were employed to examine the associations of each walkability index with WT frequency, adjusting for socio-demographic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two walkability indices were closely correlated (ρ = 0.76, p < 0.01). The associations of full walkability and SSW with WT frequency were positive, with regression coefficients of 1.12 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.17) and 1.14 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.19), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SSW employs readily-available geographic data, yet is comparable to full walkability in its association with WT. The concept and methods of space syntax provide a novel approach to further understanding how urban design influences walking behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Epidemiology Laboratory, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia. Javad.Koohsari@bakeridi.edu.au.|Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan. Javad.Koohsari@bakeridi.edu.au.|Institute for Health & Ageing, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia. Javad.Koohsari@bakeridi.edu.au.|McCaughey VicHealth Centre for Community Wellbeing, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. Javad.Koohsari@bakeridi.edu.au.
authors.forename: Mohammad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Koohsari
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Epidemiology Laboratory, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia.|School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Neville
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health & Ageing, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cerin
authors.affiliation: McCaughey VicHealth Centre for Community Wellbeing, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Billie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giles-Corti
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Epidemiology Laboratory, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia.|Institute for Health & Ageing, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia.|McCaughey VicHealth Centre for Community Wellbeing, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Takemi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D019352:Censuses; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011156:Population Density; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014186:Transportation; D014505:Urban Population; D016138:Walking
keywords: Built environment; Space syntax; Street layout; Urban design; Urban form; Walkability; Walking