Concurrent measurement of global positioning system
and event-based physical activity data : a methodological
framework for integration

Iveson, AMJ; Granat, MH; Ellis, BM; Dall, PM

Abstract

Objective: Global positioning system (GPS) data can add context to physical activity data and have previously been integrated with epoch-based physical activity data. The current study aimed to develop a framework for integrating GPS data and event-based physical activity data (suitable for assessing patterns of behavior). Methods: A convenience data set of concurrent GPS (AMOD) and physical activity (activPAL) data were collected from 69 adults. The GPS data were (semi)regularly sampled every 5 s. The physical activity data output was presented as walking events, which are continuous periods of walking with a time-stamped start time and duration (to nearest 0.1 s). The GPS outcome measures and the potential correspondence of their timing with walking events were identified and a framework was developed describing data integration for each combination of GPS outcome and walking event correspondence. Results: The GPS outcome measures were categorized as those deriving from a single GPS point (e.g., location) or from the difference between successive GPS points (e.g., distance), and could be categorical, scale, or rate outcomes. Walking events were categorized as having zero (13% of walking events, 3% of walking duration), or one or more (52% of walking events, 75% of walking duration) GPS points occurring during the event. Additionally, some walking events did not have GPS points suitably close to allow calculation of outcome measures (31% of walking events, 22% of walking duration). The framework required different integration approaches for each GPS outcome type, and walking events containing zero or more than one GPS points.

Citation

framework for integration. Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour, 4(1), 9-22. https://doi.org/10.1123/jmpb.2020-0005

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 23, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Dec 7, 2020
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Dec 9, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 9, 2020
• Journal: Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour
• Print ISSN: 2575-6605
• Electronic ISSN: 2575-6613
• Publisher: Human Kinetics
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 9-22
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jmpb.2020-0005
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1123/jmpb.2020-0005
• Related Public URLs: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jmpb/jmpb-overview.xml
• Additional Information: Access Information : Accepted author manuscript version reprinted, by permission, from Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1123/jmpb.2020-0005. © Human Kinetics, Inc.