Mapping quality of life in the south east Queensland region with a web‐based application

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a prototype Web geographical information system for mapping aspects of quality of life derived from a survey of residents in the Brisbane‐South East Queensland conducted in 2003. Using cluster analysis, "downshifters" — people who voluntarily make a long‐term change in their lifestyle following the decision to "downshift", other than planned retirement, which reduces their income ‐ are categorised. Principal component analysis was used to examine the performance of statistical local areas against three perceived components of neighbourhood attractiveness ‐aesthetic, amenity and social interaction — that underlie the residential location decision choice of survey respondents. Spatial distributions of downshifters and neighbourhood attractiveness can be visualised with a Web browser. Keywords: Web GISquality of lifedownshiftingresidential location decision choice