Date of Award

Spring 5-13-2011

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Geosciences

First Advisor

Dr. Dajun Dai

Second Advisor

Dr. Jeremy Crampton

Third Advisor

Prof. John Steward

Abstract

From 2000 to 2007, the five core county area of Metropolitan Atlanta (Fulton, Dekalb, Clayton, Cobb and Gwinnett) experienced 1,871 incidents involving child pedestrians. Nearly one-third of these incidents occurred during school-commuting hours. This study examines the geospatial locations of these incidents, with regards to the location of all 647 public schools within the study area. A GIS is used to analyze the spatiotemporal arrangement of these incidents in order to find risk factors and patterns in the data. Aspects of the built environment are then considered in areas with higher frequencies of child pedestrian-vehicle incidents. A walkability assessment is conducted to assess risk factors involved in the increased incident frequencies in an area of Stone Mountain. A correlation with the location of parks, recreation centers and other destinations are found. Improvements and installation of crosswalks are suggested in order to improve safety and walkability of child pedestrians in these areas.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/1957746

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