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02-structure.Rmd

@@ -1,17 +1,23 @@
 # Scope
 
-There are some things to keep in mind while using this book, so that you make the most of it.
+![](static/cake-2.jpg){.people .no-border style="margin:0 auto; display:block;" width="8cm"}
+
+I really like the idea of **eat cake first** [@cetinkaya-rundelLetThemEat2018], which means at the heart of this book's approach is the belief that it's best to dive in and get started with the task at hand, even if that means adopting a "good enough" approach initially.
+
+There may be more complex or nuanced workflows available, and I'll be sure to point those out as well. There might even be better ways to derive insights or understand results, but the methods discussed here are enough to get started with. My goal is to provide you with the quickest and most straightforward path to achieving your desired outcome.\
+\
+This also means **no prior knowledge of GIS or programming** is required to follow along. Wherever needed, I will link to appropriate guide material to reduce redundancy of writing it here again. What I *will* show is how to use those results in a real-life context. There are some things to keep in mind while using this book, so that you make the most of it.
 
 ## What to expect
 
-This cookbook **will**:
+This guidebook **will**:
 
 1.  Demonstrate how to combine methods for better understanding walkability.
 2.  Present real-life case studies to illustrate how this information can be practically used.
 3.  Provide resources for urban planning professionals, academics, and anyone interested in the field to conduct their own research.
 4.  Provide a framework for assessing walkability and encourages readers to draw their own conclusions based on their research and analysis
 
-But we **won't**:
+But it **won't**:
 
 1.  Aim to provide an exhaustive list of measures or a comprehensive review of research.
 2.  Claim to offer a one-size-fits-all solution for assessing walkability.
@@ -31,15 +37,14 @@ But we **won't**:
 ```
 ![](static/people.png){.people .no-border width="14cm" height="4.5cm"}
 
-This book is a valuable resource for a wide range of professionals, academics, and individuals interested in the field of urban planning, design, and development. Specifically, it may be of interest to:
+Little-to-no prior knowledge is required for following the methods discussed in this book. You might be a:
 
-1.  For urban planners and designers, this book offers valuable insights on how to assess walkability in cities and neighborhoods.
+1.  Urban planner or designer, for whom this book offers insights on how to assess walkability in Indian cities and neighborhoods.
 
-2.  For community advocates, this book provides a framework for promoting walkable neighborhoods and understanding the factors that make them successful.
+2.  Community advocate, for whom this book provides a framework for promoting walkable neighborhoods and understanding the factors that make them successful.
 
-3.  If you're a researcher, academic, or student in urban planning, public health, or related fields, this book is a great resource for gaining a comprehensive understanding of walkability and its impact on the people that use them.
+3.  A researcher, academic, or student in urban planning, public health, or related fields, for whom this book is a great resource for gaining a comprehensive understanding of walkability and its impact on the people that use them.
 
-This book isn't a dry, technical manual. It's full of real-life case studies and practical techniques that can be used to make cities more walkable. So whether you're a professional or just someone who loves taking a stroll, this book is for you.
+This book isn't a dry, technical manual. It's full of real-life case studies and practical techniques that can be used to make cities more walkable. Whether you're a professional or just someone who loves taking a stroll, this book is for you.
 
 ## How to Read This Book
-

03-recommended-softward.Rmd

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 # Recommended Software & Tools
 
-![](static/cake-2.jpg){.people .no-border style="margin:0 auto; display:block;" width="14cm"}
-
-I really like the idea of **eat cake first** \\parencite{leonIntroductionRstudio4edu, cetinkaya-rundel2018}, which means at the heart of this book's approach is the belief that it's best to dive in and get started with the task at hand, even if that means adopting a "good enough" approach initially.
-
-There may be more complex or nuanced workflows available, and I'll be sure to point those out as well. There might even be better ways to derive insights or understand results, but the methods discussed here are enough to get started with. My goal is to provide you with the quickest and most straightforward path to achieving your desired outcome. \
-\
-This also means **no prior knowledge of GIS or programming** is required to follow along. Wherever needed, I will link to appropriate guide material to reduce redundancy of writing it here again. What I *will* show is how to use those results in a real-life context. I will be using the following to collect data, perform analysis and visualize the results:
+I will be using the following to collect data, perform analysis and visualize the results:
 
 1.  [**OpenStreetMaps**](https://openstreetmaps.org) **(OSM)**: OSM is a crowdsourced mapping tool that is used to collect and update geographic data. It is a free and open-source mapping tool that provides map data and related services to users worldwide. You might compare this to Google Maps, but it is even better because we will be able to *pull* data from the OSM database and perform analyses
 

04-overview.Rmd

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 # Walkability
 
-## Walkability Metrics
+Walkability refers to how friendly an area is for pedestrians. It is a measure of how easy and enjoyable it is to walk in a particular environment. Walkability assessment is a process of evaluating the features of a neighborhood or a city that affect walkability, such as the availability and quality of sidewalks, street connectivity, traffic safety, pedestrian amenities, and land use. Walkability is essential for promoting sustainable transportation, enhancing public health, reducing traffic congestion, and improving the overall quality of life in cities. Assessing walkability involves collecting data about the physical and social characteristics of a place, analyzing the data, and interpreting the results to develop strategies for enhancing walkability.
+
+## Recommended Readings
 

05-types-of-analysis.Rmd

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 # Types of Analysis
 
-## Qualitative Analysis
+When assessing the walkability of a neighborhood or a city, it is important to use both quantitative and qualitative analyses.
 
-## Quantitative Analysis
+Quantitative analysis is done with metrics are **objective, measurable characteristics** of a place that can be quantified using numerical data. Examples of quantitative metrics include sidewalk coverage, street connectivity, and pedestrian counts. These metrics are important because **they provide a standardized way of evaluating walkability** and can be used to compare the walkability of different areas.
 
-## Introducing additional dimensions to walkability
+Qualitative analysis, on the other hand, is done with metrics are **subjective characteristics** of a place that are difficult to measure using numerical data. Examples of qualitative metrics include the aesthetic quality of the environment, social perceptions of safety, and the presence of cultural amenities. These metrics are important because **they capture aspects of the pedestrian experience that are not easily quantifiable**, such as the perceived safety of a neighbourhood or that walking can foster.
+
+By using both quantitative and qualitative metrics in walkability assessments, we can develop a more comprehensive understanding of the walking environment. This book will introduce case-studies to show how these methods can be combined.
+
+## Levels of Analysis {#levels}
+
+To fully understand the walkability of an area, it is essential to examine the neighbourhood at multiple levels and look beyond just the physical environment, such as sidewalks and green spaces, to consider the social interactions and dynamics that shape the experience of walking. For example, we may find that even within a single community, there are divisions based on socioeconomic status or other factors, which could impact the level of access and resources available to different groups of residents and affect their ability to walk and enjoy the neighbourhood.
+
+This approach recognizes that the physical layout of the neighbourhood is just one aspect of what makes it walkable and by looking at the neighbourhood as the sum of its various parts and expanding our understanding of the walking experience, we can gain a more holistic view of the factors contributing to walkability.
+
+In the case of Ejipura, I wanted to see how these various levels could be explored. Figure \@ref(fig:levels) describes this approach. This book describes how to engage in some methods of analysis of each of these levels.
+
+![(#fig:levels)](images/levels.png){width="15cm"}

06-hybrid-assessments.Rmd

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+# Hybrid Assessments
+
 Combining qualitative and quantitative data is essential to understand issues as complex as mobility fully. However, analyzing both data types can be challenging, and integrating them into a cohesive analysis is often tricky. Here, hybrid assessments can help bridge the gap between qualitative and quantitative studies.
 
 ## Why bother
@@ -6,7 +8,7 @@ In the previous section, we explored various walkability measures, including an
 
 In early 2023, [Sensing Local](https://www.sensinglocal.in/), an organization that works on urban and environmental issues in Indian cities, commenced a series of walkability for 24 wards in Bangalore [@byiffathRaisingStreets2022]. As of writing this, more than 139 km of footpaths have been audited in 10 wards has been completed. These audits, using collaborative tools and with the help of community volunteers, mapped various street features, such as footpath conditions, street litter, encroachment, and streetlight presence. Although these are important indicators of the neighbourhoods they visited, there may be other problems that these criteria missed.
 
-To better understand the region, another audit of Bangalore's wards was conducted by ichangemycity in 2016 and produced data for all wards, including Ejipura[@ichangemycityEjipuraWard1482016]. This audit included a broader set of criteria, such as:
+To better understand the region, another audit of Bangalore's wards was conducted by ichangemycity in 2016 and produced data for all wards, including Ejipura [@ichangemycityEjipuraWard1482016]. This audit included a broader set of criteria, such as:
 
 1.  **Civic Facilities**: Presence of parks, public toilets, bus stops, and waste collection centres.
 2.  **Quality of life**: Walkability of footpaths and conditions of significant crossings, streetlight presence, and other citizen grievances.
@@ -41,7 +43,3 @@ This process differs from the flow I illustrated above and uses qualitative rese
 This process involved qualitative research to develop indicators that emerged from local knowledge. Using site visits as an essential part of verifying results, I ensured that my insights were grounded in the community context. This approach allowed me to tailor my findings to the specific needs of Ejipura rather than attempting to impose Western models of development that may not be appropriate for Indian cities.
 
 One challenge of using qualitative research is that it can be perceived as unscalable. However, in the following sections, I will demonstrate how I used qualitative data to analyze the environment quantitatively based on the insights gained from interviews and observations. This method can help to bridge the gap between qualitative and quantitative approaches, providing a more comprehensive understanding of walkability in Indian cities. These methods will be demonstrated using Ejipura as the context but can be replicated easily for any other region. Let's get into it!
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