Evaluating the reliability of reported distance data in urban travel behaviour analysis

The objective of the present paper is to analyze the accuracy of reported distances in travel behavior research, and to distill from this analysis some useful recommendations for data collection and handling in activity-based modeling. This issue is important because we know from the literature on distance cognition that conjecture, perception and rounding in distance reporting is a rule, rather than an exception. The outcome is a biased transport modeling result. The paper introduces some theoretical reflections on distance measurements and cognition. Next, using household travel survey data collected in 2000 for the city of Ghent, Belgium, the problem of reported distance reliability is examined. A comparison of travel distances using detour factors revealed that self-reported distances provide reasonable estimates of shortest distance path distances. With respect to the effect outliers and rounding have on the reliability of reported distances it is found that mean detour factors are very much dominated by outliers over short distances, but that rounding has little impact. The accuracy of self-reported distances is also influenced by the socio-demographic profile of the respondents, the characteristics of the trip, and the type of transport mode used.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VG8-4JWFGT1-1/2/1c0a904a8e38d7163d201f14f389eb8e
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09666923
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier
• Authors:
  • Witlox, Frank
• Publication Date: 2007-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp. 172-183
• Serial:
  • Journal of Transport Geography
  • Volume: 15
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0966-6923
  • Serial URL: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jtrangeo

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data collection; Detours; Distance; Reliability (Statistics); Theory; Travel behavior; Travel surveys; Trip length; Urban travel
• Uncontrolled Terms: Activity based modeling
• Geographic Terms: Ghent (Belgium)
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01049685
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 25 2007 10:34AM