Development framework for micro-scale assessment tools of neighborhood built environment:Based on a modular perspective
The World Health Organization(WHO)has emphasized the crucial role of urban planning in public health since 1997,and the release of the"Healthy China 2030"outline further integrates health considerations into all aspects of urban and rural planning.The neighborhood built environment serves as a fundamental physical carrier for neighborhood spaces,supporting residents'daily lives and significantly influencing urban public health outcomes.Micro-scale assessments of the neighborhood built environment focus on specific environmental elements'characteristics and quality,providing guidance for effective implementation of neighborhood renewal initiatives.This method is widely recognized and applied globally as a refined approach to assess healthy neighborhoods due to its utilization of detailed evaluation indicators,systematic operational procedures,and flexible target selection criteria.Despite more than two decades of research particularly in developed regions such as Europe and North America,challenges persist including tool redundancy,neglected assessment needs,and divergent objectives within single tools.Therefore,there is a need for a new framework that addresses these issues in assessment tools.In the context of neighborhood planning,core public health goals encompass age-friendliness,child-friendliness and accessibility,etc.It proposes a modular framework for assessment tools that allows for the integration of multiple objectives in a flexible manner.During tool development,it consists of a"basic module"covering fundamental requirements for a well-designed neighborhood built environment,as well as"additional target modules"focusing on specialized assessment objectives aligned with diverse public health goals.When applying the tool,users can combine the"basic module"with relevant"additional target modules"to create customized assessment tools tailored to specific needs.This modular approach enables selective customization of assessment targets and eliminates the need for repetitive tool development when conditions change.The study serves as a prime example of the development process employed in creating a modular assessment tool,specifically utilizing the"Accessible Pedestrian Environment"module within the framework of the"High-Density Environment Assessment Tool(HEAT)".The scope of assessment was defined as the"15-minute walkable neighborhood",with segments(sidewalks)and crossings(intersections)constituting the objects under evaluation.Initial assessment items were formulated based on design codes,standards,guidelines,literature reviews,and focus group discussions.These items underwent further refinement through pilot assessments and expert evaluations to determine their final version.The on-site assessments were conducted in two"15-minute walkable neighborhoods"located in the central downtown area of Chongqing,representing both mountainous and relatively flatland urban forms.A total of 103 segment samples and 105 crossing samples were randomly selected from these two neighborhoods and independently assessed by two raters.All assessments followed standardized procedures to ensure result independence and accuracy.Subsequently,the inter-rater reliability was tested using Kappa/Weighted Kappa statistics as well as percentage agreement.The results indicated a satisfactory overall reliability,with more than 91.7%of items demonstrating"very good"or"good"inter-rater reliability.The study demonstrates that the modular assessment approach meets reliability requirements while offering flexibility and applicability in addressing diverse public health goals,enhancing assessment efficiency and precision.Modular tools facilitate problem-solving-oriented,refined neighborhood renewal.Customized assessment tools can be tailored to specific neighborhood needs,enabling precise and targeted neighborhood built environment renewal with reduced redundant tool development efforts.It enables a pathway of"setting goals-generating tools-implementing assessments-identifying problems-finding solutions"for neighborhood renewal.The complete items are publicly accessible for ongoing refinement,considering the challenge of ensuring absolute accuracy in item formulation within a limited development timeframe.The advances in artificial intelligence and virtual assessment methods,along with potential automation through machine learning techniques,gradually suggest the possibility of replacing manual assessments for streetscape image evaluation.In summary,the framework has significant theoretical and practical value as it provides a refined and customizable assessment methodology for evaluating the neighborhood built environment.This contributes to enhancing its overall quality,promoting healthy behaviors,and improving residents'quality of life.Given the growing emphasis on public health,micro-scale assessment of the neighborhood built environment offers a precise approach to urban renewal by decentralizing indicators in neighborhood assessments while comprehensively and systematically evaluating microenvironments.It establishes a long-term mechanism of"assessment,analysis,and renewal",thereby contributing to constructing healthier and more livable urban environments.
neighborhood built environmentmicro-scale assessmentpublic healthhealthy neighborhoodneighborhood renewalmodular