Topic 3.4

Environmental Quality Surveys (EQS)

A systematic fieldwork technique for assessing and comparing urban environments

AQA Specification 8035 Section 3.3.2

Students must demonstrate knowledge of: appropriate data collection methods for urban fieldwork, how to conduct an EQS, how to present EQS data (bipolar charts, radar graphs, bar charts), how to analyze and interpret results, and limitations of methodology (subjectivity, bias, reliability).

What is an Environmental Quality Survey?

An Environmental Quality Survey (EQS) is a fieldwork technique used to assess and compare the quality of different urban environments using the observer's judgments against a range of measurable indicators.

Purpose of EQS:

  • Compare environmental quality between different areas (e.g., regenerated vs non-regenerated)
  • Provide quantitative data to support hypotheses about urban change
  • Identify areas in need of improvement or regeneration
  • Evaluate success of regeneration projects
Subjective

Based on observer's perception

Systematic

Consistent criteria across locations

Quantitative

Produces numerical scores

Repeatable

Can be replicated by others

Downloadable Resources
Templates and guides for your EQS fieldwork
Key Statistics to Memorize
10
indicators used
-2 to +2
bipolar scale
5
locations per area
16.4
point difference
PreviousNext