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Using Google Street View to audit the built environment: inter-rater reliability results
Cheryl M Kelly1, Jeffrey S Wilson, Elizabeth A Baker
1Beth-el College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Colorado, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, USA. ckelly6@uccs.edu
Summary
Auditing the built environment using Google Street View is a reliable method. This approach offers a standardized way to collect public health data, enhancing comparisons across diverse study sites and times.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Research
- Urban Planning
- Geospatial Analysis
Background:
- Observational field audits are standard for collecting built environment data in public health.
- A reliable, standardized alternative using publicly available information is needed for efficient cross-site comparisons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the inter-rater reliability of built environment audits conducted via Google Street View imagery.
- To determine the feasibility of using virtual audits for public health research.
Main Methods:
- Street segments from St. Louis and Indianapolis were geographically stratified in 2011.
- Inter-rater reliability was assessed using observed agreement and the prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa statistic (PABAK).
Main Results:
- The mean PABAK across all audited items was 0.84.
- Ninety-five percent of items demonstrated substantial (PABAK ≥ 0.60) or nearly perfect (PABAK ≥ 0.80) agreement.
Conclusions:
- Google Street View imagery provides a reliable method for conducting built environment audits.
- This virtual approach facilitates consistent data collection for public health studies.
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