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

Ann Forsyth; Leslie Lytle; David Van Riper

doi:10.5198/jtlu.v3i1.105

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Published

2010-05-28

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2010)

Section

Articles

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How to Cite

Forsyth, A., Lytle, L., & Van Riper, D. (2010). Finding food: Issues and challenges in using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to measure food access. Journal of Transport and Land Use, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.5198/jtlu.v3i1.105

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

Ann Forsyth

Cornell University

Leslie Lytle

University of Minnestoa

David Van Riper

University of Minnesota

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5198/jtlu.v3i1.105

Keywords: Food, GIS, Access

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.

Author Biographies

Ann Forsyth, Cornell University

Professor, City and Regional Planning

Leslie Lytle, University of Minnestoa

Professor, School of Public Health

David Van Riper, University of Minnesota

Research Fellow, Minnesota Population Center