Validation of desk-based audits using Google Street View® to monitor the obesogenic potential of neighbourhoods in a pediatric sample: a pilot study in the QUALITY cohort

Table 2 Street-level change in QUALITY residential neigbourhoods between 2008–2015 using both desk-based and on-site audits (n = 287 Montreal street segments). QUALITY Study, 2008–2015

	Present in 2008 (on-site audits) n	Present in 2015 (on-site audits) n	Absolute Difference (% difference) based on 2008 and 2015 on-site audits	Present in 2015 (desk-based audits) n	Absolute Difference (% difference) based on 2008 on-site and 2015 desk-based audits
Traffic lights for pedestrians	21	14	− 7 (− 33.3)	17	− 4 (− 19.0)
Traffic lights for cars	38	39	+ 1 (+ 2.6)	41	+ 3 (+ 7.9)
All-ways stop signs	112	122	+ 10 (+ 8.9)	121	+ 9 (+ 8.0)
School corridor	8	46	+ 38 (+ 475.0)	56	+ 48 (+ 600.0)
Intersection choker¹	11	18	+ 7 (+ 63.6)	18	+ 7 (+ 63.6)
Pedestrian crossing zone²	39	35	− 4 (− 10.3)	42	+ 3 (+ 7.7)
30 km/h speed signs	58	30	− 28 (− 48.3)	34	− 24 (− 41.4)
“Watch out for children”/“Children playing”/neighbourhood watch signs	68	31	− 37 (− 54.4)	27	− 41 (− 60.3)
> 1 traffic calming measure³	99	63	− 36 (− 36.4)	68	− 31 (− 31.3)
> 1 measure to facilitate pedestrians⁴	142	152	+ 10 (+ 7.0)	157	+ 15 (+ 10.6)
> 1 sign of social disorder⁵	61	65	+ 4 (+ 6.6)	90	+ 29 (+ 47.5)

¹Build-outs added to a road at or near the intersection to narrow it
²This item includes: mid-segment zebra crossing, zebra crossing at the intersection, textured intersection for pedestrians, and pedestrian crosswalk sign
³The traffic calming measures include speed bumps, mid-segment stop signs, 30 km/h or lower speed limits, large obstacles, or traffic lights
⁴The pedestrian-facilitating measures include all-ways stop sign, pedestrian crossing zone, and dedicated traffic lights for pedestrians
⁵Signs of social disorder include any visible trash, graffiti, vacant lots, or abandoned buildings

ISSN: 1476-072X