Tools

Responding to research needs identified through HIA practice, Collaborative members have developed and applied a number of innovative evidence-based tools for assessing the health impacts of public policies and land use development. These tools have a wide range of focus, and can be used in different stages of the HIA process. For example, the HIA evidence base and the Healthy Development Measurement Tool provide research, data and resources that are useful for the screening and scoping phases of HIA. Other tools, such as the air quality dispersion model and the vehicle-pedestrian injury collision model can be used to assess impacts on specific health outcomes during the analysis stage of HIA.

Generally, these tools fall into two categories: HIA process tools and HIA analytic tools. Examples of HIA “process” tools include a guidebook, scoping worksheet, screening checklist, and practice standards. HIA analytic tools include spatial assessment, quantitative forecasting, and survey instrument tools.

Below we list each of the tools developed by Collaborative members, the type of tool it reflects, brief descriptions of each tool as well as where to go for more information.

Tool	Type	Developed by	Summary	Contact Info
HIA Practice Standards	Process	Collaborative members and others	A collective product of several HIA practitioners working in the North American context to translate the values underlying HIA and key lessons from conducting HIA into specific "standards for practice" for each of the five stages of the HIA process.	Rajiv Bhatia (415) 252-3931 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
HIA Toolkit for Community Planning	Process	Human Impact Partners	The HIA Toolkit is a user-friendly workbook designed for training students, professionals, and community members to conduct an HIA. The Toolkit includes descriptions and examples of each step of an HIA, as well as exercises designed to give the user hands-on practice with identification of stakeholders, analytical tools, and reporting of results. The Toolkit has been utilized in academic settings, and was the basis of the design of HIP's HIA training.	Kim Gilhuly (510) 740-0142 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
HIA Evidence Base	Process	Human Impact Partners	This is a searchable database of the peer-reviewed public health literature that includes important findings and references connecting the built environment and health. The evidence base is updated annually.	Kim Gilhuly (510) 740-0142 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
HIA Screening Checklist	Process	SFDPH and HIP	This worksheet includes a series of questions to help guide HIA practitioners in determining whether an HIA is warranted.	Jennifer Lucky (510) 740-0143 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
HIA Scoping Worksheets	Process	SFDPH and HIP	This worksheet is intended to help HIA practitioners outline the scope of an HIA, including identification of impacted populations, research questions, analytical methods, and data sources.	Jennifer Lucky (510) 740-0143 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Healthy Development Measurement Tool (HDMT)	Process and Analytic (spatial assessment and plan evaluation)	SFDPH	The Healthy Development Measurement Tool (HDMT) is a health impact assessment tool developed by numerous stakeholders involved in San Francisco’s Eastern Neighborhoods to support more accountable, evidence-based, and health-oriented planning and policy-making. The HDMT is comprised of over 100 community health indicators as well as a "healthy development" screening and evaluation checklist that can be used to consider health needs in urban development plans and projects. The HDMT explicitly connects public health to urban development planning in efforts to achieve a higher quality social and physical environment that advances health.	Rajiv Bhatia (415) 252-3931 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
West Oakland Healthy Development Checklist	Process	HIP (from SFDPH's tool)	This checklist was developed from SFDPH's Healthy Development Checklist. It has been adopted by the West Oakland Project Area Committee (the redevelopment committee) to aid in assessing proposed developments and land use plans in order to foster positive health outcomes.	Jonathan Heller (510) 740-0143 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Air Quality Measurement and Modeling	Analytic (forecasting)	SFDPH and UC Berkeley	Motor vehicle air pollution is greater for those living close to busy roadways. Research shows that living close to high levels of traffic is associated with reduced lung function, increased asthma hospitalizations, asthma symptoms, bronchitis symptoms, and medical visits. SFDPH is attempting to assess the problem of traffic-related air pollution in a partnership with UC Berkeley School of Public Health. Using both modeling and monitoring to determine exposure to air pollutants at a local level, SFDPH is using the data to help planners and community groups understand potential exposures and craft solutions. SFDPH is especially interested in defining the distribution of diesel trucks and busses and their contribution to neighborhood diesel particulate exposures.	Tom Rivard (415) 554-8930 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The San Francisco Noise Model	Analytic (forecasting)	SFDPH and UC Berkeley	The San Francisco Noise Model is a series of tools including field measurements, evaluations and modeling which define the current noise levels in SF communities with special emphasis on understanding the effects of traffic volumes on the acoustical environment. This information will be used to assist in the implementation of State Building Code requirements associated with acoustical insulation of new residential construction. In addition, local community groups can use this information to advocate for sound walls, quieter busses, fewer trucks, and less mechanical equipment on commercial rooftops.	Tom Rivard (415) 554-8930 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Vehicle-Pedestrian Injury Collision Model	Analytic (forecasting)	SFDPH	The Vehicle-Pedestrian Injury Collision Model is a practical forecasting tool to predict changes in vehicle-pedestrian injury collisions associated with changes in traffic volume, land use, and additional environmental and demographic factors impacted by development. This multivariate, census tract-level model utilizes publicly available data, and variables for which data is routinely collected, analyzed and reported in local planning processes. SFDPH first piloted a simple bivariate model in Oakland, and then developed and refined a multivariate model for use in San Francisco. This tool can be used in conjunction with safety countermeasures to plan to prevent future pedestrian deaths and injuries. A written manuscript of the model methodology is under peer-review for publication.	Megan Wier (415) 252-3972 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Pedestrian Environmental Quality Index (PEQI)	Analytic (spatial assessment)	SFDPH	The Pedestrian Environmental Quality Index (PEQI) is an observational survey which quantifies street and intersection environmental factors empirically known to affect people’s travel behaviors. PEQI includes five main pedestrian categories which embody important physical environmental factors: traffic, sidewalks, land use, intersections, and safety. SFDPH is currently applying the PEQI in select areas of San Francisco’s Eastern Neighborhoods, Treasure Island, and the Excelsior, and has conducted a pilot application in Executive Park. PEQI findings could inform neighborhood planning, prioritization of improvements through the land use and transportation planning, and environmental assessments.	Cyndy Comerford Scully (415) 252-3989 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Bicycle Environmental Quality Index (BEQI)	Analytic (spatial assessment)	SFDPH	The Bicycle Environmental Quality Index (BEQI) is a quantitative observational survey to assess the bicycle environment on roadways to evaluate what streetscape improvements could be made to promote bicycling in San Francisco. The survey has 25 indicators that are empirically linked to evidence that either promote or discourage bicycle riding and connectivity to other forms of travel. The BEQI is under development and being piloted on San Francisco’s Treasure Island as part of a community transportation plan.	Cyndy Comerford Scully (415) 252-3989 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Neighborhood Completeness Indicator	Analytic (spatial assessment)	SFDPH	The Neighborhood Completeness Indicator is a quantitative spatial assessment tool measuring the proximity of San Francisco residents to daily goods and services in their neighborhoods. It was created as part of the Healthy Development Measurement Tool to advance the Public Infrastructure objective of assuring access to daily goods and service needs, including financial services and healthy food. Included in the indicator are 11 key public and 12 key retail services necessary to meet the daily needs of neighborhood residents and promote increased social interactions and increased walking and biking, thereby reducing daily vehicle trips and miles traveled.	Jennifer McLaughlin (415) 252-3879 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Retail Food Availability Survey	Analytic (survey instrument)	SFDPH	The Retail Food Availability Survey is a survey which assesses the availability of healthy and affordable foods within stores, and therefore within neighborhoods, to determine community food security. This survey aims to examine the availability of certain foods, all of which are components of the US Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan Market Basket, and other factors influencing food purchases within stores in low-income neighborhoods in San Francisco, California. This survey is being piloted in 55 stores within the designated boundaries of San Francisco’s South of Market District.	Cyndy Comerford Scully (415) 252-3989 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it