Generating evidence in support of site planning and design

Abstract

This chapter presents the development and application of the BlueHealth Environmental Assessment Tool (BEAT). It also introduces the online tool, which is an output of the project and free to use by readers. The evidence-based approach to planning requires that various kinds of data be collected and analysed before and after any intervention is made. This provides the necessary understanding of the balance of risks and benefits associated with changes in an environment, in its usage, in the activities conducted in that space and in the health and well-being of its users and subsequently to plan in a way that maximises benefits and minimises risks. The BEAT is primarily designed to be used as an online tool, but it is also available for download, which allows for a printed version to be used on sites where assessors are not connected to the internet. There are several opportunities for using BEAT in tandem with the decision support tool.