Environmental Audit Toolkit: Data-driven urban insights
About This Course
This course aims to equip participants with the skills to systematically assess the environmental quality of outdoor built environments using the Environmental Audit Toolkit developed by Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities(LKYCIC) Ageing Urbanism team and adapted in MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT) Healthy Precinct Framework. Neighbourhood- and street-scale environmental audits are a source of rich micro-level, people data. Participants will learn how to collect data about people’s perceptions of their outdoor environment, methods to adapt this toolkit based on target demographics, and learn to identify key environmental enablers and barriers for diverse groups’ out-of-home mobility, analyse spatial data, and interpret audit results for age-friendly planning and design interventions. The audit can form a baseline assessment and starting point for benchmarking outdoor built environment performance to reinforce enabling developments and introduce new initiatives to address gaps or barriers to outdoor mobility. The course is targeted at those who are interested in understanding and creating inclusive urban outdoor built environment.
What You'll Learn
- Apply environmental audit toolkit to systematically evaluate urban outdoor built environment for older adults and children, and adapt tool to other demographics.
- Conduct participatory mapping using digital tools (e.g., Padlet) to document environmental features and user feedback.
- Interpret basic spatial analysis outputs (e.g., heatmaps, site observation charts) to identify enablers and barriers in the built environment.
- Summarise and compare findings for different demographic groups, highlighting commonalities and differences in environmental needs.
- Identify areas for planning and design interventions based on audit results to improve the inclusivity of public spaces.
- Reflect on the role of environmental audits in supporting job functions in urban planning, community health, and environmental assessment.
Entry Requirements
Education: A level or Diploma Professional Experience:
- Some experience working in urban planning, design, estate management, community health, policy, or related sectors.
- Or current employment in a relevant organisation (e.g., government agency, town council, consultancy, hospital, academic institution).
Basic Computer Literacy:
- Ability to use digital tools for mapping and data collection (e.g., Padlet, spreadsheets, basic GIS or mapping platforms).