[An Investigation into the Geographical Characteristics of Difficult Areas of Food Access in Mountainous Regions Using a Geographic Information System]

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2019 May;46(Suppl 1):142-143.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

We performed this study with the aim of clarifying the geographical features of areas of difficult-to-access foods in mountainous regions, using GIS, altitude data, and future population projections. With QGIS, we mapped altitude data, future estimates of the old age population(mesh), and retail store data, and we extracted the altitude at the mesh center point. We also draw straight lines connecting the retail stores and the mesh center point. Meshes located in areas with high altitudes had significantly more meshes not occupied by humans than meshes located in low-lyingareas (p<0.01). At least 95% of the retail shops and mesh center points were separated by more than 500 meters, and thus are considered difficult to access. The number of non-residential areas increases in mountainous regions because of the sharp gradient and the long distance to retail stores. By visualizingusingGIS, future resources can be considered more realistically.

MeSH terms

  • Food
  • Food Supply
  • Geographic Information Systems*
  • Humans
  • Marketing