Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0529-6712

Date of Award

12-17-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Geosciences

First Advisor

Chetan Tiwari

Second Advisor

Taylor Shelton

Third Advisor

Dajun Dai

Abstract

Disparities in food accessibility, driven by socio-economic factors and spatial inequities, remain a critical issue in urban food environments. Traditional methods, such as the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, rely on fixed distance metrics, overlooking consumer mobility and finer-scale access patterns. This study redefines food accessibility by integrating mobility data, spatial analysis, and a detailed classification of access and choice at the block group level in Atlanta, Georgia. Using GIS and SafeGraph data, metrics for food access and choice were developed, compared with USDA-defined food deserts, and analyzed against socio-economic and demographic attributes. The findings reveal significant inconsistencies in USDA classifications and highlight southern and western Atlanta as predominantly low access and low choice, associated with lower incomes and higher Black population rates. This research underscores the need for dynamic, behaviour-driven tools to redefine food deserts and inform equitable policy interventions, offering a more comprehensive perspective on urban food accessibility.

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