The Forge Mini Symposium: 'Transport and Well-Being: Connecting Research Agendas'.

METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES AROUND GPS AND CYCLING

Godwin Yeboah
Northumbria University School of the Built & Natural Environment

Presentation by Godwin Yeboah

Monday 30 January 2012, Politics Department, University of Sheffield

Overview
Brief background of research
Research question and one of the objectives

Why primary data collection? Data collection and methodological issues

Tracked sample size Actual data collection Data challenges Anonymization of data

Brief results of everyday cycling travel survey

Results 1 - Outcome of fieldwork survey Preliminary Results 2 Visualization of data using GeoTime, ArcGIS & Excel

Concluding remarks
Godwin Yeboah, Northumbria University

Brief background of research

PhD research title: Constraints and enablers for cycling in urban environments: An integrated model approach Main research question: How does the built environment constrain or support active transport - especially cycling? One of the objectives: collects primary data on cyclists perception and actual route choice experiences and preferences using GPS devices and diaries Supervisors: Dr. Seraphim Alvanides & Dr. Emine

Mine Thompson
Funding: Northumbria University Scholarship
Godwin Yeboah, Northumbria University

Why primary data collection?

Secondary data is aggregated or not detailed enough (e.g. census data; surveys; more recently DfT) Lack of detailed quality data affects research of this nature. To make available new data on actual and revealed route choice preferences of utility cyclists within the research area; not existing previously. To enable further research towards understanding constraints and enablers for cycling; especially in relation to transport and (indirectly) well-being.
Godwin Yeboah, Northumbria University

Tracked sample size

UK National Travel Survey (NTS) GPS Feasibility study (DfT)
The fieldwork was done in two waves; 66 adults in one wave (October-November) and 68 adults in the second wave (JanuaryMarch). In all 96 adults were interviewed face-to-face across the two waves for the NTS study.

TU Deft project in the town of Almere

15 families initially agreed to participate. However, in the end, 40 participants out of 13 families from three neighbourhoods participated in the study by carrying GPS devices for one week.

This work (Northumbria project within Tyneside conurbation):

One wave: October-November 2011 118 initially agreed to participate. In the end: 81 participants out of 111utility cyclists
Godwin Yeboah, Northumbria University

Evaluation, procurement & preparation of survey instruments

Evaluation: Four GPS devices were evaluated: i-gotU GT-600; Atmel BTT08; Canmore GT-750 (L); and Qstarz BT-Q1000XT Procurement: 54 Qstarz BT-Q1000XT Survey instruments GPS devices Questionnaire forms and travel diaries; partly adopted from (Lemieux & Godin, 2009; DfT, 2011) Three web pages were designed using Survey Monkey web service Consent form and research statement (in accordance with Northumbria University policy on Ethics) A leaflet containing frequently asked questions (FAQ) as well as important issues on the use of the GPS device Flyers, brochures and posters

Godwin Yeboah, Northumbria University

Field campaign (in September 2011)

Online
Email was sent to 350 potential cyclists (included emaillists of bicycle user groups of both Northumbria and Newcastle Universities, and other face-to-face contacts) Twitter services

Offline
Posters with flyers on notice boards on campus Distribution of flyers and brochures to potential cyclists at cycling related events

Godwin Yeboah, Northumbria University

Actual data collection GPS & diaries

Use of SPSS and Excel to extract three-stage representative samples from sample (due to limited GPS devices and time factor); 10 45 56 Participants comments on use of GPS & diaries
Participant ID-1010XT11600002: No problems whatsoever. All smashing. Participant ID-1480XT11500947: No problem into day 2 cycled in today despite the weather

Godwin Yeboah, Northumbria University

What is a messy dataset? its Meaning? Structure? Scale? Noise?

Actual data collectionand planned work Work done (update) GPS & diaries
Add your procedure here Key assumptions
Add your assumptions here

Godwin Yeboah, Northumbria University

Godwin Yeboah, Northumbria University

Another example of a messy data

Data challenge
The Challenge idea:
To isolate cycling paths from messy GPS tracks without any or few additional information such as an example of each participants cycle track.

How to implement this idea

As a contribution/proposal to call for contribution in Workshop on Future Research Directions in MOVEment: COST IC0903 MOVE meeting, 1516 March 2012, TU Delft, Netherlands

Godwin Yeboah, Northumbria University

Anonymization of data
Central reality of data collection: data can either be useful or perfectly anonymous but never both. -- Law professor Paul Ohm: Source; http://arstechnica.com/techpolicy/news/2009/09/your-secrets-live-online-in-databases-of-ruin.ars

Challenge: Balancing usefulness of data and anonymity Suggestions for anonymizing GPS-generated data 100m(?) buffer around home, work or school locations? Publishing maps without detailed basemap & coordinate system? For example maps shown in Van der Spek, S., Van Schaick, J., De Bois, P. & De Haan, R. (2009) 'Sensing Human Activity: GPS Tracking', Sensors, 9 (4), pp. 3033-3055. (map on next slide)
Godwin Yeboah, Northumbria University

Example of maps shown in Van der Spek, S., Van Schaick, J., De Bois, P. & De Haan, R. (2009) 'Sensing Human Activity: GPS Tracking', Sensors, 9 (4), pp. 3033-3055.

Figure 7. Two extreme types of GPS tracks from the Almere experiment: degree of match between both ways on a return trip. Background map is based on the Almere street pattern. Godwin Yeboah, Northumbria University

Figure 5a. GPS tracking results from Lhrcenter (parking for 1,400 cars) and from Gorresplatz (parking for 386 cars) in Koblenz: superimposition of one week of data collection from both locations. All track points are logged at 5 seconds frequency on devices carried by pedestrians that on the same day access the city centre from the car park and return to their car.

Results 1 outcome of survey

Summary graph of completed field data collection
400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Number

Godwin Yeboah, Northumbria University

Preliminary result 2 - Visualization of cycling data using GeoTime, ArcGIS & Excel

DEMO VIDEO - GOTO:

My blog: http://godwinyeboah.blogspot.com/ My YouTube Channel: UNDERSTANDING CYCLING DATA USING GeoTime, ArcGIS, Excel and Bing Maps: http://www.youtube.com/SpatialScience
Godwin Yeboah, Northumbria University

Concluding remarks
This kind of research design has only been implemented in very few studies Further challenges: e.g.: data cleansing and analysis, reconstructing travel behaviour based on actual route choices, purpose of journeys, cycle infrastructure, etc. Thinking of modelling, simulation & visualisation techniques Towards an integrated model aiming to explain constraints and/or enablers to cycling in an urban environment

References
Anderson, T., Abeywardana, V., Wolf, J. & Lee, M. (2010) National Travel Survey GPS Feasibility Study Lemieux, M. & Godin, G. (2009) 'How well do cognitive and environmental variables predict active commuting?', International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 6 (1), p. 12. DfT (2011). In Confidence - National Travel Survey (Questionaire form). . London, Dft with National Centre for Social Research (NatCen). Van der Spek, S., Van Schaick, J., De Bois, P. & De Haan, R. (2009) 'Sensing Human Activity: GPS Tracking', Sensors, 9 (4), pp. 3033-3055. Law professor Paul Ohm: Source; http://arstechnica.com/techpolicy/news/2009/09/your-secrets-live-online-in-databases-of-ruin.ars

Questions and Discussion