A Reliability Check of Walkability Indices in Seoul, Korea

Eun Jung Kim and Young-Jae Kim
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Eun Jung Kim: Department of Urban Planning, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeol-daero, Dalseo-gu, Daegu 42601, Korea
Young-Jae Kim: Department of Forest Resources and Landscape Architecture, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaluate walkability levels using popular indices and check the measurement reliability between those indices. This study evaluates the city of Seoul, using 100 × 100 m grid points (N = 44,000) as spatial units of analysis. In this study, four types of indices were used to measure walkability levels: Walkability index (WI), Walk score (WS), Pedshed (Ps), and Movability index (MI). This study utilizes Pearson’s R, Brand–Altman plot with limit of agreement (LOA), and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) as reliability check methods. The measurement reliability among the four indices was found to be relatively high. The Pearson’s R values were between 0.308 and 0.645, and the range of inside LOA of Brand–Altman plots was 94.5% to 95.5%. The ICC value of the four indices was 0.544, indicating moderate reliability. The results reveal a relatively high level of measurement reliability between the four indices. On the basis of this study’s results, the level of walkability in other cities in Korea can be ascertained. The study may provide future direction for walkability index development that considers urban environmental characteristics. From the results, we expect that future urban planning and policies will aim to improve walkability.

Keywords: reliability; walkability index; walk score; pedshed; moveability index; Bland-Altman plot; intraclass correlation coefficient; city of Seoul (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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