Analysis of spatial accessibility to sports facilities for children using public transport, walking, and cycling network data: A GIS-based two-step floating catchment area study in Linköping, Sweden
2026 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Spatial accessibility and equity are essential for all residents of the city to achieve sustainable development across social, ecological, and economic dimensions. Under the Agenda 2030 policy, Sweden has different development goals to achieve. When adults can drive to socially important facilities, children are often forgotten in spatial planning regarding their choice of transport. Children's transport alternatives are often walking, cycling paths, and public transport to their school, playground, or sports facilities. With good spatial accessibility and equity in access to sports facilities, children, have more opportunities to be active socially and to support their mental and physical health through different sports. Under the UNICEF Convention on the Rights of the Child, the focus is on increasing children's rights to both spatial and sports accessibility is important. This study has analyzed the spatial accessibility to both recreational and organized sports facilities for children aged 7 to 15 in the city of Linköping, Sweden. The study’s goal is to help inform spatial accessibility to different sports facilities in Linköping and identify areas for improvement based on the 15-minute city. This can help traffic planners, leisure developers, and urban planners increase spatial accessibility and equity to sports facilities. The chosen methods were a two-step floating catchment area method (2SFCA) in ArcGIS Pro, an interview with a traffic planner from Linköping municipality, and the analysis of the spatial equity and accessibility using data on walking, cycling paths, and public transport. The study shows that Linköping has good conditions for spatial accessibility through its walking, cycling, and public transport networks. The study concludes that Linköping needs to improve the spatial distribution of sports facilities, particularly indoor ice rinks.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2026. , p. v+48+appendixes
Keywords [en]
Linköping, sports facilities, two-step floating catchment area, spatial accessibility, spatial equity, Agenda 2030, UNICEF Convention on the Rights of the Child, 15-minute city
National Category
Transport Systems and Logistics Human Geography
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-50511OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hig-50511DiVA, id: diva2:2080185
Subject / course
Geomatics
Educational program
Master Programme in GIS and Applied Geography
Supervisors
Examiners
2026-06-262026-06-262026-06-26Bibliographically approved