External link: http://docs.trb.org/prp/17-01359.pdf

Publication date: January 1, 2017

Capsule summary: This research investigates the feasibility for other data collection methods for small and mid-sized MPOs, such as GPS data from a smartphone.

Author(s): Flake, Leah; Lee, Michelle; Hathaway, Kevin; Greene, Elizabeth

Publisher(s): Transportation Research Board

Definition: Modeling travel demand
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Definition: Planning practices for pedestrians, bikes and transit
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Definition: Data analysis techniques for transportation planning
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Definition: The development and use of new technologies in transportation planning and transportation systems.
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Definitions: Passenger transportation services
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Definitions: The movement of people
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Definitions: Transportation on foot
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Definitions: Transportation by bicycle
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Definitions: Transportation by automobile
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Definition: A federally funded transportation policy-making organization, comprised of local government representatives and transportation authorities
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Definition: Article from an academic or professional journal
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Description: Using a smartphone’s built in sensors, the app rMove was used to collect driver’s GPS data for later data analysis. The app was hoping to replace the current inexpensive method, travel diaries. The researchers were looking for inexpensive means for small and medium sized MPOs cheaply collect more accurate data.

Objectives: Allow for better survey results due to feasibility of multiple day collection. Additionally, this research hopes to demonstrate that smartphone collection leads to more accurate results that aren’t reliant on self-reporting, like diaries. The data collected is also cheaper than other GPS techniques because no one needs to be hired. Overall, this new method leads to cheaper more accurate data leading to more informed decisions based on better data.

Findings: The smartphone data provided more accurate data especially with respect to trip frequency. However, the total cost of the data from the smartphone was roughly 30% more, mostly due to the cleaning required of the data (although it was done over 3 days). With respect to trip duration and distance, those that were reported were accurate to the data collect by the app.

Recommendations: Using smartphone’s to collect GPS is more accurate and cheaper (over a long period of time) than other forms of GPS collection or the diary method. This is especially useful for smaller MPOs which may not have the resources to collect GPS data otherwise. However, the under reporting due to the diary method and ability to quantitatively correct for that underreporting is valuable regardless if the app is used.

Research Theme: Advancing New Technologies, Innovative Data Analysis, Planning for Pedestrians, Bikes, and Transit, Travel Demand Modeling

Community Type: City, Medium City, Rural, Small City, Suburb

Transportation Mode: Automobile, Bicycle, Pedestrian, Personal, Transit

Planning Scope:

Organization Type: MPO or RPO

Planning Subject: Facility or Land Use, Highway Planning, Sustainable Transportation, Transportation Planning