Extracted Data From: Smart Location Database

This submission includes publicly available data extracted in its original form. Please reference the Related Publication listed here for source and citation information: https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/smart-location-database7 If you have questions about the underlying data stored here, please contact Thomas John ([e-mail]). If you have questions or recommendations related to this metadata entry and extracted data, please contact the CAFE Data Management team at: [e-mail]. \"The Smart Location Database is a nationwide geographic data resource for measuring location efficiency. It includes more than 90 attributes summarizing characteristics, such as housing density, diversity of land use, neighborhood design, destination accessibility, transit service, employment and demographics. Most attributes are available for every census block group in the United States. A large body of research has demonstrated that land use and urban form can have a significant effect on transportation outcomes. People who live and/or work in compact neighborhoods with a walkable street grid and easy access to public transit, jobs, stores, and services are more likely to have several transportation options to meet their everyday needs. As a result, they can choose to drive less, which reduces their emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants compared to people who live and work in places that are not location efficient. Walking, biking, and taking public transit can also save people money and improve their health by encouraging physical activity. The Smart Location Database summarizes several demographic, employment, and built environment variables for every census block group (CBG) in the United States. The database includes indicators of the commonly cited “D” variables shown in the transportation research literature to be related to travel behavior. The Ds include residential and employment density, land use diversity, design of the built environment, access to destinations, and distance to transit. SLD variables can be used as inputs to travel demand models, baseline data for scenario planning studies, and combined into composite indicators characterizing the relative location efficiency of CBG within U.S. metropolitan regions. EPA first released a beta version of the Smart Location Database in 2011. The initial full version was released in 2013, and the database was updated to its current version in 2021.\" Quote from https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/smart-location-mapping and https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/smart-location-database7