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Nutrients
Volume 17
Issue 5
10.3390/nu17050911
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Article

Developing and Testing a User-Focused, Web GIS-Based Food Asset Map for an Under-Resourced Community in Northeastern Connecticut

by
Xiran Chen
1,
Manije Darooghegi Mofrad
1,
Sydney Clements
2,
Kate Killion
3,
Thess Johnson
2,
Xiang Chen
2,
Donna Zigmont
3,
Daniela C. Avelino
3,
Brenda Lituma-Solis
3,
Michael J. Puglisi
1,
Valerie B. Duffy
3 and
Ock K. Chun
1,*
1
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
2
Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community and Urban Studies, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
3
Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nutrients 2025, 17(5), 911; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050911
Submission received: 24 January 2025 / Revised: 28 February 2025 / Accepted: 2 March 2025 / Published: 6 March 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community-Engaged Strategies to Improve Food Access, Food Security, and Health Outcomes)
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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Access to healthy and affordable food remains a challenge for under-resourced communities due to uneven food distribution and the need for reliable transportation. This study developed and evaluated an interactive Geographic Information System (GIS)-based food asset map for a low-income community in Windham, Connecticut to improve awareness of food resources and expand opportunities for fresh food access. Methods: Using the human-centered design (HCD) framework and the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model, the map integrates food locations, transportation routes, and assistance eligibility. Internal pilot testing (n = 8) identified usability issues, leading to updates such as mobile compatibility and user guides. Usability testing (n = 74) assessed navigation performance and user feedback through task-based evaluations and surveys. Categorical map usability, sociodemographic, diet, and health characteristics were tested for participants with food security (yes/no) or digital literacy (passed/failed). Results: Food-secure participants showed higher usability success than food-insecure individuals (p < 0.05), while those relying on food assistance faced greater challenges (p < 0.05). Individuals rating their diet as “very good/excellent” were most likely to pass the map usability testing (p < 0.05), whereas younger, college-educated, employed participants and those with vehicles trended toward passing (p < 0.1). Participants generally reported the map easy to navigate, especially those with food security. Conclusions: The asset map promotes food resource awareness and addresses barriers such as limited public transportation information. Additional efforts are needed to support food-insecure users in utilizing digital food access resources. This study contributes to initiatives to improve food access, digital inclusion, and community engagement in under-resourced communities.
Keywords: asset map; GIS; food security; digital food and nutrition literacy; low-income; usability test asset map; GIS; food security; digital food and nutrition literacy; low-income; usability test

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Chen, X.; Mofrad, M.D.; Clements, S.; Killion, K.; Johnson, T.; Chen, X.; Zigmont, D.; Avelino, D.C.; Lituma-Solis, B.; Puglisi, M.J.; et al. Developing and Testing a User-Focused, Web GIS-Based Food Asset Map for an Under-Resourced Community in Northeastern Connecticut. Nutrients 2025, 17, 911. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050911

AMA Style

Chen X, Mofrad MD, Clements S, Killion K, Johnson T, Chen X, Zigmont D, Avelino DC, Lituma-Solis B, Puglisi MJ, et al. Developing and Testing a User-Focused, Web GIS-Based Food Asset Map for an Under-Resourced Community in Northeastern Connecticut. Nutrients. 2025; 17(5):911. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050911

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chen, Xiran, Manije Darooghegi Mofrad, Sydney Clements, Kate Killion, Thess Johnson, Xiang Chen, Donna Zigmont, Daniela C. Avelino, Brenda Lituma-Solis, Michael J. Puglisi, and et al. 2025. "Developing and Testing a User-Focused, Web GIS-Based Food Asset Map for an Under-Resourced Community in Northeastern Connecticut" Nutrients 17, no. 5: 911. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050911

APA Style

Chen, X., Mofrad, M. D., Clements, S., Killion, K., Johnson, T., Chen, X., Zigmont, D., Avelino, D. C., Lituma-Solis, B., Puglisi, M. J., Duffy, V. B., & Chun, O. K. (2025). Developing and Testing a User-Focused, Web GIS-Based Food Asset Map for an Under-Resourced Community in Northeastern Connecticut. Nutrients, 17(5), 911. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050911

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