ARIA vs RRMA

A Comparison of the ARIA (Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia) and RRMA (Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Areas Classification) Methodologies for Measuring Remoteness in Australia

This document was produced by the National Key Centre for Social Applications of Geographical Information Systems (GISCA) at the University of Adelaide under a project funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care. It is intended as a discussion document to be circulated for comment.

Feedback is welcomed - contact details are listed below

Contents

1. Executive Summary
2. Project Aims and Outputs
3. Background
4. The RRMA Methodology

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Calculation of the RRMA index

4.3 Critique of RRMA

5. The ARIA Methodology

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Calculation of the ARIA index

5.3 The advantages of using the ARIA index over the RRMA classification

5.4 Criticism of ARIA addressed

6. Using ARIA to Classify Remoteness

6.1 Towards translation of ARIA and RRMA

6.2 Comparability of the ARIA and RRMA indexes

6.3 Establishing concordance at the accessible end of the spectrum

6.4 Establishing concordance at the remote end of the spectrum

7. Conclusion and Recommendations
8. References

Rachel Aylward
Ph 08 8303 3560
email: raylward@gisca.adelaide.edu.au

Errol Bamford
Ph 08 8303 3470
email: ebamford@gisca.adelaide.edu.au

GISCA
University of Adelaide
North Tce
Adelaide SA 5005

Produced by The National Key Centre for the Social Applications of GIS (GISCA), University of Adelaide 11 Feb 2000
Site last modified on 16 Feb 2000 by The National Key Centre for the Social Applications of GIS (GISCA), University of Adelaide