Activity–Travel Behaviour Research: Conceptual Issues, State of the Art, and Emerging Perspectives on Behavioural Analysis and Simulation Modelling

Abstract

The ‘human activity approach’ to the study of travel behaviour represents a synthesis of concepts and analytic approaches partially drawn from several subdisciplines concerned with human spatial behaviour. Underlying the approach is the widely accepted view that travel demand emerges in response to individual and household requirements for activity participation. Study of the literature reveals a diverse array of research interests, equalled by the application of a broad assortment of modelling approaches and tools for analysis. The paper begins with a discussion of several conceptual issues that, if addressed, could enhance the behavioural rigour of on‐going research. The rest of the paper updates the literature with respect to state of the art and emerging approaches to activity–travel analysis and modelling. Overall, it is concluded that the advancement of new modelling concepts and approaches, in the presence of substantial methodological diversity, needs to be balanced with research into the kinds of behavioural and analytic issues raised in the paper.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the anonymous referees for their contribution to shaping the final version of this manuscript. They also extend their gratitude to several individuals who took the time to forward manuscripts and provide additional details with respect to their research: Harry Timmermans, Kay Axhausen, Darren Scott, Antonio Páez, Eric Miller, Jamie Spinney, Juan Carrasco, Matthew Roorda, Andy Harvey, Sean Doherty, and Don Janelle. The first author would also like to recognize the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada for the provision of post‐doctoral funding. The second author gratefully acknowledges financial assistance from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Canada Research Chairs (CRC) programme.