One way to get a sense of a community is to drive or walk around it, observing and taking note of its characteristics. These windshield and walking surveys can be an important part of a community assessment. In this section, we\u2019ll describe them in more detail, and discuss how to conduct one successfully.
\nWHAT ARE WINDSHIELD AND WALKING SURVEYS?
\nWindshield surveys are systematic observations made from a moving vehicle. Walking surveys are systematic observations made on foot. Either or both can help you better understand either the community in general or a specific condition or aspect of it.
\nWindshield surveys are particularly useful when the area you want to observe is large, and the aspects you\u2019re interested in can be seen from the road. A walking survey might be a better choice when you\u2019re seeking to understand things that are harder to see from a moving vehicle.
\nWindshield and walking surveys can be used to assess general community needs \u2013 to estimate the poverty level, for example \u2013 or to examine more specific facets of the community\u2019s physical, social, or economic character. Some possibilities:
\nThe age, nature, and condition of the community\u2019s available housing
\nInfrastructure needs \u2013 roads, bridges, streetlights, etc.
\nThe presence or absence of functioning businesses and industrial facilities
\nThe location, condition, and use of public spaces
\nThe amount of activity on the streets at various times of the day, week, or year
\nThe noise level in various parts of the community
\nThe amount and movement of traffic at various times of day
\nThe location and condition of public buildings \u2013 the city or town hall, courthouse, etc.
\nWHY WOULD YOU CONDUCT WINDSHIELD AND WALKING SURVEYS?
\nWindshield or walking surveys can be structured to provide an objective view of the community.
\nThey can be adapted to community-based participatory research, inviting community participation.
\nThey can be the easiest and quickest way to get an overview of the entire community.
\nThey allow clear comparisons among different parts of the community, and can help to determine where to focus your efforts.
\nThey can be very useful in understanding specific aspects of a community.If your concern is with the community\u2019s relationship to the environment, the nature of street life, traffic, or with any other particular element of community life or functioning, a windshield or walking survey that concentrates on that element can provide you with an overview and help you decide where to go next for more information.
\nThey give you a \u201cfeel\u201d for the community.
\nWHEN SHOULD YOU CONDUCT WINDSHIELD AND WALKING SURVEYS?
\nOften in the Community Tool Box, the answer to the \u201cWhen\u2026?\u201d question is that there are times when performing an action is politically, socially, or logistically more appropriate than others. Here, that\u2019s not the case: windshield or walking surveys can be conducted whenever they\u2019re needed. However, if you want to understand how people use the community, you\u2019ll need to conduct your survey at a time \u2013 perhaps a number of different times \u2013 when they\u2019re likely to be engaged in activity you can see. To get the best picture of the community, you may have to do a number of surveys at different times of the day, week, and\/or year.
\nWHO SHOULD CONDUCT WINDSHIELD AND WALKING SURVEYS?
\nThe answer to this question depends on a number of factors. How large is the area to be surveyed? How many times will surveys be conducted? Is this a participatory research project ( help with nursing paper writing from experts with MSN & DNP degrees)? Will you be conducting surveys in teams or as individuals?
\nA small neighborhood or rural village might be adequately surveyed in one day by a single person, whereas a large city might require several days with several teams of observers. If you\u2019re engaged in participatory research, you might organize observers in teams, each of which has representatives of different ages, cultures, ethnicities, income levels, community sectors (business, government, health and community services), etc.
\nOne important issue is safety. If there is hostility between races or ethnic groups, it may not be safe for some people to survey particular neighborhoods. Even if there is no real danger, but only a perception of danger, the resulting anxiety can affect the accuracy and completeness of a survey.
\nAnother difficulty with conducting a windshield or walking survey as a participatory research project ( help with nursing paper writing from experts with MSN & DNP degrees) is that community members might already have set ideas about many of the questions that need to be asked. On the other hand, a windshield or walking survey can also serve to open community members\u2019 eyes to the realities of their environment.HOW DO YOU CONDUCT WINDSHIELD AND WALKING SURVEYS?
\nWindshield and walking surveys are similar in many ways, but there are some important differences. Here, we\u2019ll give some guidelines that relate to both, and then look at each in turn.
\nGENERAL GUIDELINES FOR BOTH WINDSHIELD AND WALKING SURVEYS
\nDetermine who will conduct the survey
\nThe reason this guideline is first is that you\u2019re likely to get the best results if those who will be conducting the survey are involved in its planning. Their observations will be sharper if they understand what they\u2019re looking for, which is most likely if they help to develop the survey.
\nThe ideal, whether you\u2019re driving or walking, is to use a team or teams if you have the resources to do so. The variety of perspectives will enrich the survey, and each team member can focus on a particular task \u2013 observation, recording, etc. \u2013 making for a more efficient survey.Decide on the questions you want your survey to answer
\nThe questions you choose will determine the scope and structure of your survey. If your basic survey question is something like \u201cWhat is the nature of the community?\u201d then there will be a number of secondary questions to ask that will help you answer that first one. If your focus is much narrower, you may need only one question, such as, \u201cDo most streets in the community have sidewalks?\u201d or perhaps one question with more than one part: \u201cHow, by whom, and how much are public playgrounds used?\u201d
\nDecide on the areas you\u2019ll include in your survey
\nIf your work is in a large city \u2013 New York, Tokyo, Cairo, etc. \u2013 you\u2019re probably only concerned with a small section, or with a particular segment of the population. But you might want to survey other parts of the city as well, to get a sense of the city as a whole and fit that neighborhood or population in its context.
\nYour choices will help shape your understanding of the community, so you should make them thoughtfully.What areas will best reflect the aspects of the community you want to know about? Which locations best relate to the work you want to do?
\nDecide when you\u2019ll conduct your survey
\nConsider how the time of day, week day versus weekend, and the season will affect your survey. You may want to repeat your survey more than once in order to capture the differences between community conditions or activities at different times.
\nTrain the people who are going to conduct the survey
\nTraining here is fairly simple, but there are some important points to be covered:
\nGet well acquainted with your questions, the purpose of the survey, and what you\u2019re looking for.
\nMake and use a checklist to ensure that you address all of your questions, and observe all the areas you want to.
\nTry to be unobtrusive. Not only do people act differently when they know they\u2019re being observed, but they may also become suspicious or hostile.
\nCarry identification.
\nTake notes as you go along. You may also want to shoot photos or videos with a camera or cell phone, in order to both remember and illustrate what you\u2019ve seen. If you wait to take notes until after the survey is done, you may not remember everything clearly, or you may ignore important details.
\nIf you\u2019re working in teams, assign roles. A team should have at least one observer and at least one recorder.
\nDiscuss your findings as you go.
\nPay attention to safety. Be aware of the neighborhood and situation you\u2019re in, especially if you\u2019re walking. If you feel threatened, leave.
\nWhat to examine in a general community assessment survey
\nHousing. What is the age and condition of housing in the neighborhoods you\u2019re surveying? Are houses and apartment buildings kept up, or are they run-down and in need of repair? Are yards neat or overgrown?
\nOther buildings. Are the buildings mostly or fully occupied? Do public and commercial buildings seem accessible to people with disabilities \u2013 ramped, street level entries, etc.?
\nPublic spaces. Are there public spaces where people can gather? Are they well kept up? Do they have seating areas, trees and plants, attractive design, cafes or food vendors, or other features meant to encourage people to use the space? Who uses these spaces? Is there diversity?
\nParks. Are parks used by a variety of people?? Are they well kept up? Are there sports facilities \u2013 basketball courts, soccer pitches, baseball fields, cricket pitches, etc.? Are they used at night?
\nCulture and entertainment. Are there museums, libraries, theaters, restaurants, clubs, sports stadiums, historic sites, etc.? Are they accessible to all parts of the community (centrally located, reachable by public transportation)? Do they reflect the cultures of community members?
\nStreetscape. The streetscape is the environment created by streets and the sidewalks, buildings, trees, etc. that line them. Are there trees and\/or plants? Are there sidewalks? Are building facades and storefronts attractive and welcoming? Are the streets and sidewalks relatively clean? Are there trash cans? Is there outdoor seating?
\nStreet use. Are there people on the streets at most times of day? In the evening? How late? Do they interact with one another? Are streets and sidewalks well lit at night?
\nCommercial activity. What kinds of businesses are there? Are there boarded-up or vacant storefronts? Is there a mix of large and small businesses? Are there grocery stores and supermarkets, pharmacies, and other stores that provide necessities in all parts of the community?
\nSigns. What languages are business signs in? Are traffic signs informative? Are there signs directing people to various parts of the community (downtown, museums, highways, etc.)?
\nIndustry. What kinds of industry exist in the community? Does it seem to be causing pollution?
\nLand use. How much open space is there? How are residential, commercial, and industrial areas distributed? Do major roads or railroad tracks divide neighborhoods, or are they on the edges of the community?
\nInfrastructure. What is the condition of roads, bridges, sidewalks, etc.? Are there differences in these conditions from one area of the community to another? Do all parts of the community seem to be equally served by electricity, water, phone, fiber optic, wastewater treatment, waste disposal, and other infrastructure services?
\nPublic transportation. Is there a functioning public transportation system? Is it well used? By whom? Does it allow relatively easy access to all parts of the community? How easy is it to navigate and use? How much does it cost? Are its vehicles energy-efficient?
\nTraffic. How heavy is traffic in the community? Is it mostly commercial and industrial \u2013 vans, trucks, etc. \u2013 or mostly private cars? Is there ever gridlock? Is there much bicycle traffic? Are there bike lanes? Are there bike racks in many places?
\nEnvironmental quality. How much usable green space is there, and is it scattered throughout the community? Is there smog or haze? Does the air smell of smoke, garbage, car exhaust, chemicals, industrial waste, etc.? Does the water in streams, ponds, lakes, etc. seem reasonably clear?
\nRace\/ethnicity. Who lives in the community? Are there identifiable racial and ethnic groups? Do particular groups seem to live in particular areas?
\nFaith communities. What kinds of religious institutions are there? Do the institutions of one particular religion or sect dominate? Are there separate houses of worship for people of different ethnicities or races, even if they share the same faith?
\nHealth services. How many hospitals and clinics are there in the community? Where are they located? How big are they? How easy are they to get to?
\nCommunity and public services. Are there identifiable community service providers and organizations in the community \u2013 mental health centers, food banks, homeless shelters, welfare offices, etc.? Are they concentrated in a particular area? Are they easy to reach by public transportation?
\nCommunity safety. Where are police and fire stations located? Are they in good repair? Is the community well-lit at night?
\nPublic schools. Are schools in different neighborhoods in noticeably different states of repair? Are schools well maintained? Or in some developing countries, are there schools in the community at all?
\nHigher education. Are there two- and four-year colleges and\/or universities in the community? Where are they located? Do they seem open to the community, or do they seem self-contained and isolated?
\nPolitical activity. Are there signs or other indications of political activity? Is it clear that political activity is allowed and\/or encouraged? Are there protests or demonstrations?
\nCommunity organizations. What evidence is there of organizations in the community? Are there service clubs \u2013 Lions, Elks, Masons, etc.? Are there other organizations \u2013 centered around community issues, the environment, sports or leisure pursuits, socialization, etc.?
\nMedia. Are there local media outlets \u2013 radio and TV stations, newspapers, Internet sites devoted to local issues? Are they independent, or are they sponsored or run by government or corporations? Where are their facilities?
\nDifferences among neighborhoods or areas of the community. What are the differences among different parts of the community? Are schools, stores, public and other buildings, streets, etc. in different areas in different condition? Do some areas seem neglected, while others are clearly maintained?
\nThe \u201cfeel\u201d of the community. What is your overall impression of the community?
\nGUIDELINES FOR A WINDSHIELD SURVEY
\nUse a map. Google Maps or similar services are an excellent resource
\nIf you can, try to use a team of at least two. That way, one person can concentrate on driving while the other navigates and records observations. It\u2019s difficult to observe closely and drive safely at the same time.
\nDrive at a moderate speed, and avoid unexpected actions
\nDrive both on major and minor streets, particularly in residential neighborhoods. You\u2019ll want to get a sense of different parts of neighborhoods and different streets.
\nPull over at regular intervals to make and compare notes
\nTry to be inconspicuous
\nGUIDELINES FOR A WALKING SURVEY
\nStudy a map beforehand, or do a drive-through so you\u2019ll know where you\u2019re going
\nTry to work in teams. Teams should probably not be larger than two or three, unless you\u2019re splitting up. Two or three people walking together is a normal group, but five or six is a crowd, and stands out.
\nIf you want to experience the community, take part in everyday activities. Take public transportation, eat in a local restaurant, buy something in a drugstore or supermarket or discount store. This will give you a chance to listen to people\u2019s conversations and to get a sense of how they interact.
\nGo inside public buildings and cultural institutions
\nSit down in a quiet place to take notes
\nIN SUMMARY
\nSometimes, the best survey can be a combination of walking and driving. You might survey the whole city or area in a vehicle, then use a walking survey to look closely at the area you\u2019re most interested in. Or you might send out walking and driving teams to survey different aspects of a community or neighborhood. You\u2019ll see different things and more detail on foot; you\u2019ll cover more ground and get a broader perspective from a vehicle.
\nBut even once your survey is finished, your job isn\u2019t done yet. You have to analyze what you\u2019ve seen and decide how to use it.
\nSome general questions you might want to consider:
\nWhat are the community\u2019s outstanding assets?
\nWhat seem to be the community\u2019s biggest challenges?
\nWhat is the most striking thing about the community?
\nWhat is the most unexpected?
\nAre you struck by the aesthetic quality of the community, either positively or negatively \u2013 i.e., is it particularly beautiful or particularly ugly?
\nWhether you\u2019re starting an all-encompassing campaign to eliminate poverty in your community, or simply looking for good places to paint murals to stimulate community pride, a windshield or walking survey can be a good way to begin your effort. It will give you a view of the community that you can use to help you decide how to take your next steps effectively in order to address real needs and improve the quality of community life.
\n—
\nWindshield and walking assessments are observational tools that provide valuable insight into a community by driving or walking around and making systematic observations. A windshield survey completed while driving allows for faster coverage of a larger portion of the community, whereas a walking survey allows for observations that might be missed while driving. Both surveys provide an overview that includes physical, economic, and social characteristics while identifying the community’s general needs. These assessments provide insight into the condition of the roads, traffic flow and fluctuation throughout the day, the appearance of outdoor spaces, and the appearance of available housing. Windshield and walking assessments help to understand how people interact with their community. Before beginning the assessment, the purpose, what areas will be assessed, when the data will be collected, who will complete the assessment, and those who will complete the assessment must be trained must all be identified. During the assessment, it is critical to use a map and to remain as inconspicuous as possible. When driving, consider residential streets and avoid driving only on major thoroughfares. If you’re walking, go into public buildings, stores, and restaurants, and take public transportation (Community Tool Box, 2022).
\nDelta, Colorado is a small town of less than 10,000 people; the downtown area consists of a few blocks with ample parking and easy access to the post office, library, county courthouse, and other public buildings. There are several vacant storefronts for sale in the downtown area, indicating a weak economy and a limited housing market; many of the houses are over 40 years old and in poor repair. Delta has views of several mountain ranges as well as a river in the middle of town. There are numerous outdoor activities available in Delta and within a 30-minute drive that encourage physical activity; however, due to its location, specialty health care providers and primary care are limited. People frequently travel long distances to get the care they require.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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