ArticleInternational journal of health geographics2025
Validity and reliability of the virtual audit tool for estimating built-environment characteristics in Taiwan.
Article in International journal of health geographics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundEnvironmental factors significantly influence health behaviors and outcomes. While Google Street View (GSV) has emerged as a cost-effective tool for environmental auditing in various countries, its feasibility in Taiwan remains unexplored. This study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of GSV-based environmental audits in Taiwan.
methodsFour administrative districts in Taipei representing different population densities and socioeconomic status were selected. A total of 74 street segments within 40 streets were evaluated using both virtual and field audits. The S-VAT was modified to include 8 categories (38 items) of neighborhood characteristics. To assess criterion validity, field and virtual audits were conducted by one rater with a minimum two-week interval. Inter-rater reliability was evaluated by comparing two raters' virtual audit results, while intra-rater reliability was assessed through repeated virtual audits by the same rater. Cohen's Kappa and percentage agreement were used for statistical analysis.
resultsWalking-related (k = 0.768), cycling-related (k = 0.921), and public transport features demonstrated high reliability. Lower reliability was found in aesthetics and grocery stores, primarily due to GSV limitations: aesthetic features (litter, graffiti) were affected by viewing angles and temporal variations, while grocery stores were challenging to assess due to restricted storefront visibility and signage clarity.
conclusionsThe S-VAT demonstrates good validity and reliability for environmental auditing in Taiwan, particularly for transportation-related features. However, caution should be exercised when assessing grocery stores and aesthetic features. This study validates GSV as a feasible tool for conducting environmental audits in Taiwan.
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