This article evaluates three approaches used to measure the impact of the built environment on physical activity.

What researchers found: Built environment measures have improved throughout the past decade, although further development of measures will be needed. Research should address quality of measures, the links between measurement and various population groups, and the role of this research in informing public health.

Why we chose this publication: These researchers conducted the first comprehensive examination of built-environment measures related to physical activity. Technical improvements of these first-generation measures, as well as examination of the utility of measures among certain population groups and in particular settings, will further advance public health surveillance and policy formation.

What researchers studied: The authors identify three categories of data on the built environment: perceived measures drawn from surveys and questionnaires; observational measures created from audits; and data set measures determined using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The review includes 20 surveys and questionnaires, 20 audit tools, and more than 50 studies that produced GIS measures.