Fieldwork Skills » Environmental Quality Surveys

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

What environmental quality surveys are and why they're important
How to design and conduct an environmental quality survey
Methods for collecting and recording environmental quality data
Techniques for analysing and presenting survey results
How to evaluate the reliability of your fieldwork
Real-world applications of environmental quality surveys

Introduction to Environmental Quality Surveys

Environmental Quality Surveys (EQS) are a key fieldwork technique used by geographers to assess and compare the quality of different environments. These surveys help us understand how pleasant, safe and sustainable different areas are, which can inform urban planning, regeneration projects and environmental management.

Key Definitions:

Environmental Quality: A measure of the condition of an environment relative to human needs and preferences.
Environmental Quality Survey: A systematic method of collecting data about the physical and social characteristics of an area.
Bi-polar Analysis: A survey technique using a scale with opposite descriptions at each end.
Subjective Data: Information based on personal opinions or feelings.
Objective Data: Information based on measurable facts, not influenced by personal feelings.

📈 Why Conduct Environmental Quality Surveys?

Environmental quality surveys allow geographers to:

Compare different areas within a settlement
Track changes in an area over time
Identify areas in need of improvement
Test geographical theories and models
Understand the relationship between environmental quality and other factors like house prices or health outcomes

📝 Types of Environmental Quality Surveys

There are several approaches to measuring environmental quality:

Bi-polar surveys: Using scales with opposite descriptions
Likert scales: Rating aspects from 1-5 or 1-10
Tallying features: Counting positive and negative elements
Land use mapping: Recording how land is being used
Photographic surveys: Visual documentation of environmental features

Designing Your Environmental Quality Survey

A well-designed survey is crucial for collecting reliable and useful data. Your survey should be tailored to your specific research question while remaining systematic and replicable.

Creating an Effective Survey Form

Your survey form should include:

Clear categories of environmental features to assess
A consistent rating system
Space for both quantitative scores and qualitative observations
Location details and time of survey
Weather conditions (which may affect perceptions)

🏠 Built Environment

Assess features such as:

Building condition
Architectural quality
Road and pavement quality
Street furniture
Public transport facilities

🌲 Natural Environment

Consider elements like:

Green spaces
Tree cover
Biodiversity
Air quality
Water features

👪 Social Environment

Look at factors including:

Sense of safety
Community facilities
Noise levels
Cleanliness
Signs of vandalism

Conducting Your Environmental Quality Survey

Once you've designed your survey, you need to plan how to implement it effectively in the field.

🗺 Sampling Strategies

Consider how you'll select survey locations:

Transect sampling: Survey sites along a line cutting through different areas
Systematic sampling: Survey at regular intervals (e.g., every 200m)
Stratified sampling: Select sites from different zones or land use types
Random sampling: Use grid references or random number generators to select locations

⚠ Avoiding Bias

To ensure your survey is reliable:

Survey at similar times of day
Use multiple surveyors and average results
Create clear criteria for each rating
Take photographs as evidence
Be aware of your own preconceptions
Consider how weather or events might affect results

Bi-polar Analysis Technique

Bi-polar analysis is one of the most common methods used in environmental quality surveys. It involves rating aspects of the environment on a scale between two opposite descriptions.

Creating a Bi-polar Survey

A typical bi-polar survey might use a scale from -3 to +3, with 0 as neutral:

Environmental Factor	-3	+3
Building condition	Derelict	Well-maintained
Traffic	Congested	Free-flowing
Green space	Absent	Abundant

For each location, you would mark where on the scale each factor falls. This creates a quantitative score that can be easily compared across different sites.

Analysing and Presenting Your Data

After collecting your environmental quality data, you need to analyse and present it effectively to draw meaningful conclusions.

📊 Data Analysis Techniques

Methods for making sense of your data:

Calculate average scores for each location
Create environmental quality indices by combining scores
Compare scores between different areas or zones
Look for patterns and correlations with other factors (e.g., distance from city centre)
Identify anomalies and consider possible explanations

📸 Presentation Methods

Effective ways to present your findings:

Radar/spider diagrams: Show multiple factors for one location
Bar charts: Compare scores across locations
Choropleth maps: Show spatial patterns of quality
Annotated photographs: Provide visual evidence
GIS mapping: Create digital maps with data layers

Case Study Focus: Burgess Park Regeneration, London

Environmental quality surveys played a crucial role in the £8 million regeneration of Burgess Park in South London. Before the project began in 2010, surveys identified issues including poor lighting, lack of facilities and underused spaces. Follow-up surveys after completion in 2012 showed significant improvements in perceived safety, usage rates and visitor satisfaction. The surveys helped planners target specific areas for improvement and provided evidence of the project's success.

Key improvements included:

New lake and wetland areas (+2.8 on bi-polar scale for water features)
Improved lighting and pathways (+2.3 for safety perception)
New play areas and sports facilities (+2.5 for recreational value)
Enhanced biodiversity through native planting (+1.9 for wildlife presence)

Evaluating Your Fieldwork

A critical part of any geographical investigation is evaluating the strengths and limitations of your methods.

Assessing Reliability and Validity

When evaluating your environmental quality survey, consider:

✅ Strengths of EQS

Provides quantitative data that can be statistically analysed
Allows comparison between different locations
Can be repeated to monitor changes over time
Combines objective and subjective measures
Relatively quick and inexpensive to conduct

❌ Limitations of EQS

Subjective judgments can introduce bias
Different surveyors may interpret criteria differently
Represents a snapshot in time (may vary by season, day, time)
May not capture all aspects of environmental quality
Cultural differences in what constitutes 'quality'

Improving Your Environmental Quality Survey

To enhance the reliability and validity of your environmental quality survey, consider these practical tips:

Pilot your survey first to identify any problems with your methodology
Use a mix of subjective and objective measures (e.g., both personal ratings and measurable counts)
Take photographs at each survey point to provide evidence for your ratings
Conduct surveys at different times (weekday/weekend, morning/afternoon) to capture variations
Use multiple surveyors and calculate average scores to reduce individual bias
Include local residents' perspectives through questionnaires or interviews
Triangulate your data with other sources like census information or local authority reports

Conclusion

Environmental Quality Surveys are a valuable fieldwork technique that allows geographers to systematically assess and compare different environments. By designing a robust survey, collecting data carefully and analysing it thoughtfully, you can draw meaningful conclusions about spatial patterns of environmental quality and the factors that influence them.

Remember that the best environmental quality surveys combine both objective measurements and subjective assessments, acknowledge potential limitations and connect findings to wider geographical theories and concepts. With practice, you'll develop the skills to conduct effective surveys that provide valuable insights into the quality of our lived environments.

🧠 Test Your Knowledge!