ILUTE Travel/Activity Panel Surveys in the Toronto and Quebec City Regions: Comparison of Methods and Preliminary Results Matthew J. Roorda, University of Toronto Martin Lee-Gosselin, Université Laval Sean T. Doherty, Wilfrid Laurier University Eric J. Miller, University of Toronto Pierre Rondier, Université Laval PROCESSUS Second International Colloquium on the Behavioural Foundations of Integrated Land-use and Transportation Models: Frameworks, Models and Applications, Toronto June 12 – 15, 2005

ILUTE Introduction Travel Activity Panel Survey –3 year, 3 wave in-depth panel survey –Concurrently running in 2 areas: Toronto and Quebec City –Total initial sample: 270 in Toronto, 250 in Quebec City –Uses a reflexive approach: survey method allowed to change over time We, as researchers, learn about the right questions to ask Respondents experience panel conditioning… we can try methods that require previous respondent experience

ILUTE Outline Survey Objectives Survey Methods Some Preliminary Results Conclusions

ILUTE Substantive Objectives Understand the process by which people schedule and reschedule activities and travel Observe how activities, travel and the underlying scheduling process change or remain stable over time Compare decision processes in two different study areas, Quebec City and Toronto Provide an empirical basis for modelling

ILUTE Methodological Objectives Compare computerised versus non-computerised survey methods Compare semi-structured qualitative interviews versus systematic quantitative survey methods Compare telephone-survey to face-to-face interview Test GPS units New measures of data quality Test CHASE on a medium-sized random sample

ILUTE Methods used Assess Routines, GPS tracking

ILUTE WAVE 1 Detailed scheduling info 7 days Toronto CHASE 7 day activity diary Computerized Detailed planning process Detailed questions about flexibility of activity in time, space, interpersonal, mode Quebec City OPFAST 7 day activity diary Paper & pencil – daily fax-back Detailed planning process In-depth qualitative post interview on: fixity, projects, negotiations, ICT, holistic interpretations of scheduling

ILUTE WAVE 2 2-day diary Stated Adaptation: Scheduling Conflicts Toronto CATI used Quebec City Post-coding with CATI software

ILUTE Wave 2: 2-day Diary - Toronto Stated Adaptation Questions: What would have happened if you had an unexpected one-hour delay in getting to this activity? What would you have done if the ___mode were not available to get to that activity? How would it have affected: other activities the same day activities on other days other household members

ILUTE Wave 2 diary – Quebec City

ILUTE WAVE 3 Routine Weekly Schedules, GPS tracking Toronto Routine weekly schedule on a single 17x22 sheet Quebec City Routine activities entered in a memory jogger What activities/trips do you normally do every week?

ILUTE Toronto Wave 3: Routine Weekly Schedule 2-day diary of activities 7-day routine weekly schedule Follow-up Interview –Details of the 2-day diary –How old are the routine activities? –Flexibility of activity times, modes, location –Commitments to other people

ILUTE Example day Time in week with no routine Routine travel Routine activity Colour coded symbols indicating time/ space/ interpersonal flexibility Toronto Wave 3: Routine Weekly Schedule

ILUTE Sample Toronto 270 hhlds Initial response rate 16.6% Wave 2 retention 84% Wave 3 (in progress) Quebec City250 hhlds Initial response rate 20.6% Wave 2 retention 80% Wave 3 (to start in July 05)

ILUTE Average Weekday Activity Durations (n.inc. basic needs or travel) TORONTO Wave 1 Wave 2 QUEBEC CITY

ILUTE Activity Preplanning When did you originally make the decision to add/change this activity? TORONTO (CHASE)QUEBEC CITY (OPFAST) If a CHASE respondent makes changes to a routine activity, it is no longer considered routine An OPFAST respondent simply reports their perception of whether an activity is routine

ILUTE Activity Preplanning in Toronto When did you originally make the decision to add/change this activity? Work / School ActivitiesShopping Activities

ILUTE Quebec City - Use of Telecommunications to plan spontaneous activities (planned < 1hr in advance) Only about 1/3 of spontaneous activities involve any contact with others Only 6% involve telecommunications No strong indication that cellular phones enable last minute coordination with others

ILUTE Toronto Wave 2 – Stated Adaptation Effect of a one hour delay in getting to an activity 2/3 of the time people anticipate that they can accommodate delays by changing the timing of the next activity within the same day We also capture effects on other activities, other people, other days. (not shown)

ILUTE Conclusions Unprecedented combination of in-depth surveys in a longitudinal panel framework Many survey methods have been developed and tested We have sacrificed the ability to do clear trend analysis by changing the survey instrument. Opportunities for data analysis –Better understand the process of activity scheduling –Understand long & short term dynamics of activity/travel behaviour –Provide a better behavioural base for development of activity based models

ILUTE Q

ADDITIONAL SLIDES

ILUTE CHASE Process Chase Scheduling DiaryInterview Household Household keeps schedules on laptop for 7 days Follow-up Interview Retrieve data from laptop

ILUTE Chase Main Screen (Blank) Instructions to User Login once a day Add activities anywhere in your schedule Review and modify Respond to prompts

ILUTE Add/modify dialogue box

ILUTE Example Partial Schedule

ILUTE Example Completed Schedule

ILUTE At the end of the week, respondents asked questions about flexibility of activities with respect to: Start time Duration Location Frequency Other people

ILUTE Other Add-on Surveys 30 Toronto respondents called for quality assessment did people take short cuts?, did they experience problems?, etc. 12 Toronto respondents outfitted with GPS units for several days. Add-on survey of accessibility constraints of low income women

ILUTE Analysis Opportunities Understanding the process of activity scheduling Understanding long and short term habits Informing model design

ILUTE Understanding the process of planning activities

ILUTE Observing Habitual Behaviour Long term vs. Short term habits Understanding habits and routines is the first step to develop policies designed to change habits (like auto dependence)

ILUTE Using data to inform models The current implementation of TASHA assumes micro- level rules about scheduling behaviour At – HomeWorkOtherShopAt-homeOther Person Schedule = Activity = Travel At-home We would like to improve the rule base using empirical data

ILUTE Questions?