1. Transportation Research Institute (IMOB)-Universtiet Hasselt
Pro-environmental behavioural change: Role of personalized informational intervention
Muhammad Adnan
Transportation Research Institute (IMOB)-Universtiet Hasselt
06/12/2018

2. Pro-Environmental Behaviour
Use of sustainable mode of transport for travel
Bicycle
Walk
Public Transport
Lesser exposure to air pollutants
Avoiding cold start of vehicle engine
06/12/2018

3. Our Approach Data Types Activity-travel (via Smart Phone)
Pollutant Concentration
Transportation Supply
Metrological conditions
Informational Intervention Instrument
Pro-Environmental Behavioural Change
06/12/2018

4. Informational Intervention
Advices on pro-environmental activity-travel pattern
Focus is on relatively flexible activities/trips
Short distant trips
Non-mandatory activities
Highlighting benefits of potential changes…based on their personal schedules
Individual level and
Societal level
Mention of good examples and taking their commitments
06/12/2018

5. Experimental Settings (ABA Design)
Workshop with Co-creation
- Training of the app
Introduction of the behavioural intervention study
Filling up of small questionnaire (socio-demographic attributes,
psychographic attributes etc. )
After workshop
Data collection
Before (at least 1 week)
Behavioural Intervention
Data collection
After (at least 1 week)
Feedback Workshop
(after 3 months)
06/12/2018

6. Details of Experiment (1)
Data was collected before and after the behavioural intervention using mobile app “SPARROWS” developed at IMOB, UH.
SPARROW is an android based app. Collected GPS probe data is processed in terms of stops and trips.
To develop a complete activity-travel diary, participant are required to annotate activity purpose and travel mode using a prompt recall method.
06/12/2018

7. Details of Experiment (2)
Consequences of my behavoiur
Behavioural Intervention instrument:
Customized processed information to each individual about their
Exposure to pollutants
Car-use and CO2 Emissions
Physical Activity Involvement
Hot and Cold starts Vehicle Engine
What other people are doing? An average level of consequences of others (as a group) will also be shown to each individual
Exploring potentials for behavioural change and advices focus on relatively easier/flexible travel behaviour
Short trips within 1-km and 3-km by active travel modes (walk and bicycle)
Replaceable car trips from reasonable Public transport option
Reduce participation in non-mandatory outdoor activities
Chaining activities
Taking customised commitments from Individuals
E.g. Replace car trips from public transport trip at least 2 per week
As a group, where I am standing
How I can contribute
06/12/2018

8. Replaceable Potential Algorithm Rules-An Example
Short distant trips
Bicycle (0-3 km)
Availability of bicycle infrastructure (Bike lane, Bicycle availability)
Bicycle path gradient
Age <= 60 and ability to ride a bicycle
Not an intermediary trip of a complex activity-travel pattern that include other long distance trip
Weather condition
Temperature
Drive alone trip
Not carrying large quantity of goods
Start time of activity at destination is flexible
Activity at destination is not pick-up type
06/12/2018

9. Implementation in Hasselt
The study started with recruitment of 53 citizens from Hasselt.
Participants were Adult, regular Car users and possess valid driving license.
Recruitment was done with stakeholders support (Stad Hasselt) along with spreading the news about the study on different forums/social media platforms.
Study was conducted from end of June till Mid August
Pollutant concentration data for exposure analysis – available in 1km x 1km resolution for each hour of the day
06/12/2018

10. Key Findings (1) Car Trips Composition
Analysis of activity travel behaviour of individual indicated significant potential for changing relatively easier behaviour
Car Trips Composition
Trips Within
1 km
Trips Within 1 km replaceable by walk
Trips
Within
3 km
Trips Within 3 km replaceable by bike
Total trips
Total Trips replaceable by PT 82 44
192 80
06/12/2018

11. Key Findings (2)
40% of participants responded (YES) to the question phrased as
did you change your transport routine? If you select YES, then please explain why?
Those who responded (NO), have positive opinion on increased awareness about impacts of their pattern.
Statistical analysis of control and treatment group indicates that there is significant
Reduction in car use for short trips (under 3 km), which in turn causes significant increase in use of active travel modes (more on bicycling)
No significant changes are observed for increase use of PT and decrease in cold starts.
06/12/2018

12. Feedback Workshop Findings
Most of the participants observed their commitments during the first month after the intervention.
Periodic campaigns/integrated app that not only track but also provide information on consequence of the travel behaviour should be the next steps to improve the intervention.
Participants wanted to have
More precise information on routes and departure times
More precise information on health impacts of their travel behaviour
06/12/2018

13. Next Steps Implementation in other iSCAPE cities
Improving the informational instrument in terms of the following;
More precise source of pollutant concentration data, which in turn help including other dimensions in the study (such as routes and departure times)
More information from the users regarding activity and trip constraints
An integrated mobile app that provide advices and nudge the users for pro-environmental behaviour (having the learning capability)
06/12/2018