Technologies and Features

Major Features

The user experience is driven via an interactive map, it is intended that the user will use the map search to locate an area of interest (either a specific address, a public open space or suburb/local government area region) and then interact with the data to learn more about parks and and their amenities in a specifc region.

The map interface has been designed similar to that of Google Maps offering an web GIS experience familiar to many users.

In addition users can download information for an individual public open space, or park summary data for a suburb or local government area for linkage with additional georeferenced data on within other anaylytics software packages.  

Architecture

Technology

The web server component uses Python and the Django/GeoDjango web framework with a PostgreSQL/PostGIS database. The front end is built using OpenLayers for the map display and JQuery and JQuery UI for the other interface elements.

• PostgreSQL v9.1.3: http://www.postgresql.org/
• PostGIS v1.5.3: http://postgis.refractions.net/
• Django v1.4.0: http://www.djangoproject.com
• GeoDjango: http://geodjango.org/
• Python 2.6: http://www.python.org/
• OpenLayers v2.1.2: http://openlayers.org/
• JQuery v1.7.2: http://jquery.com/
• JQuery UI v1.8.23: http://jqueryui.com/

Source

The project uses Jenkins for integration testing and the source will be hosted in a Google Code repository upon completion of the project.

Project Outputs and Our Primary Product

In general, the POS Tool provides access to integrated built-environment information not readily available for the region. The POS Tool will provide users with the ability to examine and interrogate POS and POS amenity data and derive POS-built environment measures based on two ABS political units - suburb and local government authority (LGA). In a planning context, the tool will allow for the geovisualization of the distribution of POS and POS amenity across the Perth metropolitan region but also allow for scenario testing of the impact of population growth on access to POS (and POS amenity). Users will be able to change the population of political units and recalculate POS and POS amenity measures to examine how growth will influence access to POS in a political unit. In a health context, the tool provides the ability to examine POS provision across the region and exported POS related information for LGAs and suburbs for linkage with other census or health outcome data.

It is expected that a Beta version of the POS Tool will be unveiled in late November at a workshop highlighting the uses for and, technical aspects of the tool.  

 

      

Who will benefit from the POS tool?

·     1. State and local planners and land developers

            There is growing recognition in government and in the urban planning sector of the role that the built form can play in community health and well being. The recent State of Australian Cities report for example, emphasised the importance of planning for livability and quality of life, and the need for city environments that encourage physically active lifestyles. Sectors and organisations involved in the planning and provision of urban infrastructure can benefit from the project through direct access to data and ability to interrogate information through a user friendly interface; and through access to research findings and translation of research utilising the POS TOOL.

          
2. Public Health, social sciences, geography and other researchers 

      Benefits to researchers in health 

Many of the factors that most influence health exist outside the sphere of the health sector, and there is growing evidence base substantiating the multiple ways in which the built environment (which includes availability and amenity of parks and open space) impacts on health. The type of data collected and used by health researchers typically focuses on health outcomes, behaviours or interventions, and objective measures of the physical environments in which people live are often difficult or cost prohibitive to access. 

Benefits to other research - The POS TOOL and POS data is relevant to research in a number of disciplines, including geography, urban planning, social policy, natural resource management and economics and regional development. Examples of application could include: exploring the economic benefits of POS and more specifically the relationship between house prices and presence/absence of POS and POS amenities.

      Other research groups could similarly utilise the POS TOOL to interrogate and export data into existing datasets to investigate their own research questions (for example the Cardiovascular Health research group at UWA could investigate the relationship between cardiovascular outcomes, physical activity and POS accessibility).

 

     
3. The community

The broader community stands to benefit in a number ways from the research and planning applications arising from the project. Benefits include:

i. better planning outcomes for community wellbeing, quality of life and recreation in terms of park/POS provision/quality and access. This has flow on benefits for both physical health (via physical activity, walking, sport, active play for children) and mental health (via access to nature, settings for relaxation and social interaction)

            
ii. greater transparency in terms of inequity or inadequate accessibility of POS for particular areas or population groups, and a tool for benchmarking improvements to address this

The general public will also benefit from a visual, interactive presentation of the POS in their area and surrounding regions.

What is the POS tool about?

Public open space (POS), including parks, confer a number of physical, psychological and social health benefits for individuals and the community. However there is a paucity of data on provision and spatial distribution of POS, and particularly adequate data to examine the provision and quality of POS by social disadvantage. This project aims to: 1) integrate heterogeneous data sets from POS data layers with other geo-referenced demographic data, 2) to develop a web based geospatial data analytic and visualisation tool to support two new opportunities:

 ·   In Research:  investigations into the provision, access, and quality of POS and contribute to research efforts to understand the direct and indirect health benefits afforded by POS

·   In Urban planning practice: enable better planning of the land allocation and positioning of POS, allocation of POS amenities relative to existing large and local scale services; and the modelling of future needs of POS according to forecasted and hypothetically modelled demographic changes.

The project will bring together and integrate multiple forms of data related to POS provision, amenity, location and infrastructure, providing the ability to analyse POS data with other geo-spatial built environment information as well as ABS population demographic data. The emphasis of this project is creating a user friendly interface for accessing and using data at various political units or levels of interest.

Why create a POS Tool?

Public open space (POS), including parks, confer a number of physical, psychological and social health benefits for individuals and the community. POS is an important setting for physical activity, which is beneficial to health in its own right, as well as contributing to prevention of overweight and obesity, improving mental health and reducing chronic disease. Parks can provide a local destination for people to walk to and be active in, and residents with very good access to attractive and large POS are 50% more likely to achieve high levels of walking (180 minutes walking/week) compared with residents without such access.

Given the benefits accruing from POS, there are a number of attributes of parks which directly impact individuals and communities. Reduction in these attributes are cause for public cconcern and include:

• Equity of access - growing income disparity in Australia and increasing urban development pose a threat to the availability and adequate provision of POS for a growing population.
• Quality - if accessible, quality can be problematic and a deterrent to use. 
• Safety - at the individual level, fears for personal safety can impinge on walking and perceived safety of public places including POS and at the community level, fear of crime and the costs of vandalism have seen a growing number of school ovals fenced off, reducing community access to POS. 
• Attractiveness - providing environmental benefits such as trees, air purification, and shade. POS also provides other necessary design functions, for instance, water catchment and storm water drainage.

In summary, POS makes important contributions to the health and well being of individuals and communities, as well as the quality and environmental sustainability of communities.  Given the lack of data on the specific relationships between the provision and distribution of POS and a range of health benefits, access to POS data is needed as well as research to assess those attributes that can benefit social and mental health of individuals and communities. By developing an open source, web based geospatial analytic tool we endeavour to enable researchers, planners and policy makers to access and utilise new data on POS, and provide capabilities to interrogate these data to answer key questions related to their fields of work.  

Project Team

Professor Fiona Bull, Project Manager, UWA

Professor Fiona Bull is recognised for her work on physical activity and public health and her contribution to research and practice in this field in Australia, the UK and internationally through her extensive international research collaborations and work with the World Health Organisation. Since 1997 Professor Bull’s work has focused on the development of methods and our understanding of the measurement and patterns of participation in physical activity in developed and developing countries. These interests underpin her work on the development and testing of population based approaches to influencing patterns of activity and improving health. Her work has focused mostly on adult populations but more recently has included several studies involving young people. Professor Bull also holds a fractional appoint at UWA and is also Professor of Physical Activity and Health at the School of Exercise and Sports Science, Loughborough University in the UK and co directs the BHF National Centre for Physical Activity and Health

Bryan Boruff, Technical Manager, UWA

Assistant Professor Bryan J Boruff received his PhD in Geography from the University of South Carolina (2005) focusing on the methodological development of risk and vulnerability assessments for environmental hazards. Whilst Bryan’s fundamental research focuses on environmental hazards, he has expertise in the application of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing technologies to a range of environmental management issues ranging from environmental impact assessments, to renewable energies, to population health. Bryan has experience working in developing nations particularly in the Caribbean, Latin America and the South Pacific collaborating on projects funded by: the National Geographic Society, The Nature Conservancy, NASA, the National Science Foundation, the National Academy of Sciences, the Australian Department of Environment and Water Resources, the Centre for Research on Energy and Sustainable Transport and Healthway.

Bridget Beesley, GIS Business Analyst, UWA

Bridget is currently utilizing her GIS and spatial analysis skills to study the relationship between the built environment and health within the Centre for the Built Environment and Health (CBEH). As a Senior GIS Analyst she works on a variety research grants within a multi-disciplinary research team, as well as supporting graduate students with the spatially related research questions. She employs Network Analyst, Spatial Analyst and utilizes the ESRI suite of products for python script tool creation for automation of a variety of research outputs. Prior to commencing work a CBEH Bridget worked as a GIS Manager/Applications analyst at the South Carolina Department of Commerce, utilizing GIS in support of state wide economic development efforts. Bridget completed a Bachelor of Arts, Honours at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON Canada (2000), specializing in Geography (and GIS), and Development Studies (International Development). Following this she completed a Master of Science in Geography (2002) at the University of South Carolina, with a specialization in GIS modelling and spatial analysis, remote sensing theory and application, database management and Internet mapping applications.

Andrew Dennison, Technical Manager, Gaia Resources

Andrew has a background in geography and data management with considerable Geographical Information Systems experience. Andrew has worked in the spatial industry for over ten years on a range of technologies and has a particular interest in open source software. His previous roles include GIS Consultant, GIS Manager, Spatial Database Administrator and Account Manager. Andrew has worked in the public and private sectors in Australia and New Zealand.

Piers Higgs, GIS Business Analyst, Gaia Resources

Piers is the Director of Gaia Resources. His role in the business focuses on an oversight role for the company, although he remains involved in a range of projects. Piers has a background in environmental science and data management, including database development and considerable Geographical Information Systems experience. His previous roles included a role as an field ecologist and data manager for a biological sciences company, as well as a project manager for a multinational company. Piers has worked in the public and private sectors in Australia and South-East Asia.

Akeal Hayek, Software Developer, Gaia Resources

Akeal is involved in the GIS development, analysis, management, integration and storage of GIS data for Gaia Resources. Akeal is involved in developing custom spatial tools to automate time and process intensive GIS workflows. He has a previous background in engineering and cadastral surveying and has experience in the use of GPS and related field data collection systems. He is proficient in computer aided drafting and also in the use of all the major GIS software packages, in addition to many open-source products. Akeal enjoys developing software applications to assist in automating GIS workflows to produce results. He has considerable experience in the languages Python, Visual Basic.Net, and Java.

Ben Khoo, Software Developer, Gaia Resources

Ben is involved with the design and implementation of many of Gaia’s web and database driven applications. Ben has worked in the software development and information technology industry for over five years on a range of technologies from desktop software to multi tiered web application development. His past roles have included software engineering, systems engineering, and support. Ben has most recently worked in the defence simulation and training industry where he worked with the Australian Department of Defence and industry.

Mel McVee, Software Developer, Gaia Resources

Mel is a GIS generalist, specialising in cartography, modelling, analytical processing, scripting and data management. She also is involved in web production and maintenance, as well as GUI and document design. Mel has an extensive background in the oil and gas and environmental conservation industries. She is an avid GIS volunteer for non-for profit organisations, primarily assisting in marine conservation producing analytical work based on coral reef bleaching in several countries.