Projects
Bellow is a list of ongoing projects in the BEAPLab research group.
HeroX
The HeroX project is a series of studies and technologies designed to further research examining the reliability and validity of commercially available wearable devices. This program includes both lab-based and free living studies combining multiple devices for measuring physical activity.
Smart Phone Cut Points
This project aims to assess the performance of smartphone accelerometers (in Android and iPhone models) in measuring physical activity intensity and duration in controlled laboratory conditions. The specific objectives are to:
1. Assess a variety of individuals. We aim to recruit a gender-balanced sample of 25 children aged 10-14 years and 25 adults (one of their parents or guardians).
2. Develop cut-points for smartphone accelerometers. Cut-points are needed so that we can assign the appropriate physical activity intensity (i.e., light, moderate, vigorous) to the “movement counts” recorded by the smartphone accelerometers.
Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium (CANUE)
Dr. Fuller is a co-lead (with Dr. Michael Widener) of the CANUE Neighbourhood Factors Group. CANUE will gather and develop measures of environmental factors for every neighbourhood across Canada. Dr. Widener and Dr. Fuller will work with CANUE to prepare data, supervise students, and organize conferences related to neighbourhoods and health research in Canada.
INTErventions, Research, and Action in Cities Team (INTERACT)
Dr. Fuller is a co-principal investigator (with Dr. Yan Kestens and Dr. Meghan Winters) on INTERACT, a national research collaboration of scientists, urban planners, and engaged citizens uncovering how the design of our cities is shaping the health and wellbeing of Canadians from coast to coast. Seeing the city as a living laboratory, INTERACT uses innovative tools that harness the power of mobile technology and interactive mapping to measure the impact of changes in urban infrastructure on people’s physical activity, social participation, and wellbeing, and inequalities in these outcomes. By enabling cities to understand the health impact of their investments, their research aims to inspire healthy and sustainable urban development that will leave a lasting impact on population health and health equity in Canada.
Integrated Transport Health Impact Model (ITHIM) Canada
ITHIM is a mathematical model that integrates data on travel patterns, physical activity, fine particulate matter, GHG emissions, and disease and injuries based on population and travel scenarios. The model calculates the health impacts of walking and bicycling short distances usually traveled by car or driving low-emission automobiles. Dr. Fuller is contributing to the development of an R package that will implement the ITHIM model.
BikeMaps.org
Data is collected from only ~30% of bike collisions, and there is no centralized reporting system for bike hazards and collisions. BikeMaps.org is a unique tool that lets citizens build a global bike safety database by mapping their riding experience. The BikeMaps.org team will analyze data to determine factors that influence cycling safety. We also have plans to build tools that will help people plan safer routes, and to transfer these tools to route planners around the globe.