Active Living for Sustainable Future: A Model to Measure “Walk Scores” via Geographic Information Systems

In 2007 a private firm in Seattle, Washington began to measure and publish walkability maps of cities, neighborhoods, and streets via “walkscore.com”. Although “walkscore” have been criticized for its parameters, no alternative have been provided so far. More over, such maps have been published for developed countries. No such initiative has been undertaken in developing countries. This study aims to introduce and discuss an alternative model to measure walkability on street level via Geographic Information Systems (GIS). About 6500 street segments in nine districts of Izmır, Turkey have been digitized as well as the land use. A walkability score (based on betweenness / centrality scores derived from street network and accessibility scores derived from landuse) for each street segment was measured via GIS and its extension Spatial Design Network Analysis (SDNA).