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Cited by 0Transportation Planning and OptimizationHuman Mobility and Location-Based AnalysisTraffic control and management

Modeling Private and Business Travelers in an Agent-Based Travel Demand Model

Open access
Ulrich, Janna, Wilkes, Gabriel, Kostorz, Nadine, Briem, Lars, Kagerbauer, Martin, Vortisch, Peter·2022·Transportation Research Board (TRB)
DOI 10.5445/ir/1000143337
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Abstract

Worldwide travel and tourism are becoming increasingly important, and travelers have hence an increasing influence on traffic volume in cities. Therefore, it is important to incorporate them in future transport planning activities and to consider them in travel demand modeling. Until now, there has been no suitable model that differentiates between travelers and inhabitants and considers the different travel behavior of these two groups. This paper presents a framework that includes different types of travelers (business/private, overnight/same day) in a microscopic travel demand model. The application of the model to the planning area of Hamburg provides evidence that tourists are responsible for about 7% of Hamburg’s traffic volume. A more detailed analysis, however, reveals differences (e.g., in the number of trips, mode choice and trip length) for all different traveler types and compared to inhabitants. Overall, the results obtained enhance knowledge and are hence beneficial for planning authorities.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

The paper presents touriTopp, an extension of the agent-based travel demand model mobiTopp that integrates private and business travelers, both overnight and same-day, into a microscopic simulation. Applied to Hamburg, it finds that tourists account for about 7% of the city’s traffic volume and that traveler types differ from residents and from each other in trips, mode choice, distances, and activities.

Key findings

  • In the Hamburg application, tourists account for about 7% of Hamburg’s traffic volume, or 7% of all trips within Hamburg.
  • The simulation modeled 1.87 million residents plus 694,026 travel agents, with some agents representing whole travel groups.
  • Overnight business travelers averaged 3.7 trips per day and private overnight travelers 3.5 trips per day when counting only full days spent in Hamburg; same-day travelers mostly made two trips, from the city entrance point to their destination and back for departure.
  • All tourist groups had a higher share of car trips than residents, while residents had a significantly higher share of cycling trips; 40% of all trips by agents staying overnight were for driving home, to a hotel, or other accommodation.

Methods

  • The study extends mobiTopp, an agent-based microscopic travel demand model, with touriTopp to simulate inhabitants and four traveler types together: private same-day, business same-day, private overnight, and overnight business travelers.
  • The application uses Hamburg as the planning area, with a one-week spring simulation and input datasets including MiD, MOP, INFERMO, Destination Monitor, Quality Monitor, official tourist accommodation statistics, and traffic-count data.
  • Analysis compares arrival days, accommodation and workplace distributions, mobility KPIs, modal split, and on-site activity distributions; model output was validated against existing input data before simulation.

Limitations

  • The authors state that data availability was scarce and modeling was challenging: no crossed datasets were available, independent distributions were used, it could not be guaranteed that datasets contained only travelers or city/Hamburg-specific travel, and no commuter-ticket data for travelers existed, so a distribution was assumed and validated during calibration.
  • The authors list further limitations and possible improvements: traveler origin is not considered; reasons for travel only distinguish business from private; travelers are not simulated as individual agents but as travel groups; and common trips cannot yet be modeled in mobiTopp.
  • The paper also notes that the week-long comparison is slightly biased because only traveler trips occurring in the planning area are counted, while trips made on arrival or departure days at home are not considered.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

DataCite · 10.5445/ir/1000143337

Cites

0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 18 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingreasoning

    After removing day trips within the planning area, Hamburg had 48.9 million same-day travelers in 2019.

    “Since day trips 4 also included trips within the planning area, these must be removed for the application, resulting 5 in 48.9 million same-day travelers [38,40,41,42,43].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 5 sources checked
    • cites [38]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [40]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [41]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [42]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [43]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Findingown data

    The application of the model to the planning area of Hamburg provides evidence that tourists are responsible for about 7% of Hamburg's traffic volume.

    “The application of the model to the planning area of Hamburg provides evidence that tourists are responsible for about 7% of Hamburg's traffic volume.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: People who travel together make all the trips on their journey together.
  • Findingnone given

    40% of all trips from agents that stay in Hamburg overnight, regardless of whether these are tourists or residents, account for driving home, to the hotel, or any other accommodation.

    “40 % of all trips from agents that stay in Hamburg overnight, regardless of whether these are tourists or residents, account for driving home, to the hotel, or any other accommodation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Private overnight travelers' accommodation is distributed over the entire city area.

    “Figure 8 depicts the spatial distributions of accommodation (e.g., hotels, apartments,…) of private overnight travelers.They are distributed over the entire city area.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    In the practical example of Hamburg, clear differences between travelers and residents could be shown.

    “Although in the practical example of Hamburg the data availability was in parts scarce, clear differences between travelers and residents could be shown.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 20
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 29

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    A more detailed analysis reveals differences in number of trips, mode choice, and trip length for all different traveler types and compared to inhabitants.

    “A more detailed analysis, however, reveals differences (e.g., in the number of trips, mode choice and trip length) for all different traveler types and compared to inhabitants.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: People who travel together make all the trips on their journey together.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    In addition to 1.87 million residents from Hamburg, 694,026 travel agents were modeled, some representing a whole travel group.

    “In addition to 1.87 million residents from Hamburg, 694,026 travel agents were modeled, some representing a whole travel group.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Findingnone given

    Travelers account for about 7% of traffic volume in Hamburg.

    “Travelers are responsible for a substantial share of a city's traffic volume; they account for about 7 % in Hamburg.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    Overnight tourists often arrive in the evening or depart already in the morning, when staying for several days, and make only one trip on these days.

    “However, overnight tourists often arrive in the evening or depart already in the morning, when staying for several days, and make, thus, only one trip on these days.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    Private tourists mainly perform leisure activities whereas work-related activities characterize business travelers' trips.

    “In contrast, private tourists mainly perform leisure activities whereas work-related activities characterize business travelers' trips.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Private travelers arrive more often at the weekend, while business trips occur more likely during the week.

    “Private travelers arrive more often at the weekend, while business trips occur more likely during the week.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisenone given

    Touristic travel behavior can differ strongly from everyday-life behavior due to different circumstances.

    “However, touristic travel behavior can differ strongly from everyday-life behavior due to different circumstances.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    Travel demand models are generally based on the inhabitants of the area of study.

    “Travel demand models are generally based on the inhabitants of the area of study.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    People walk a lot during their first visit and take public transport more often when visiting repeatedly.

    “Hence, people walk a lot during their first visit and take public transport more often when visiting repeatedly.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisenone given

    For touriTopp only the population synthesis and the mobility related attributes in the long-term module were adapted for travelers.

    “For touriTopp only the population synthesis and the mobility related attributes (see Figure 4) in the long-term module were adapted for travelers.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Llorca et al. restrict on domestic visitors which stay at least one night, do not specify how activity schedules are created, and leave out simulation results.

    “They, however, restrict on domestic visitors which stay at least one night, do not specify how activity schedules are created, and leave out simulation results.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [29]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisereasoning

    Travel modes used for arrival determine mode choice behavior during the stay significantly.

    “Travel modes used for arrival, for example, determine mode choice behavior during the stay significantly, as, e.g., the personal car cannot be used when arriving by plane or train.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    When visiting cities for the first time, most tourists stay in central areas.

    “Furthermore, when visiting cities for the first time, most tourists stay in central areas.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    The range of movement increases with the number of visits.

    “The range of movement increases with the number of visits.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Trip purposes impact travel behavior; leisure travelers do more activities per day than business travelers.

    “Trip purposes also impact travel behavior, e.g., leisure travelers do more activities per day than business travelers [17].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [17]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    For overnight travelers, the data generally included travelers but not specifically city tourism or travel to Hamburg.

    “For overnight travelers, however, travelers generally were included 16 and not specifically city tourism or travel to Hamburg.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    Tourists represent exogenous travel demand, similar to through traffic, which depending on the model may or may not be included.

    “Tourists represent exogenous travel demand, similar to through traffic, which depending on the model may or may not be included.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Travelers' contribution to mobility cannot be neglected.

    “The preceding paragraphs provided evidence that travelers' contribution to mobility cannot be neglected.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    About 14% of Kassel's daily traffic volume is caused by tourists.

    “They conclude that about 14 % of Kassel's daily traffic volume is caused by tourists.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [14]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    According to Bieland et al., mode choice on-site is predetermined by the mode used for arrival.

    “According to Bieland et al. [14], mode choice on-site is predetermined by the mode used for arrival.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [14]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    As no existing model was found to adequately simulate travelers' behavior, a new one was developed.

    “As no existing model was found to adequately simulate travelers' behavior, a new one was developed.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    In agent-based travel demand models there is an even higher focus on inhabitants and due to the agent-based structure higher effort is required to include external persons.

    “In agent-based travel demand models there is an even higher focus on inhabitants and due to the agent-based structure higher effort is required to include external persons.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In Kassel, travelers' modal split has a higher share of car and public transport trips, whereas the shares of bicycle and walking trips are much lower than everyday mobility.

    “The travelers' modal split has a higher share of car and public transport trips, whereas the shares of bicycle and walking trips are much lower.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [15]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Touristic activities have increased due to globalization, rising incomes, and changing working patterns that allow for additional short breaks.

    “Touristic activities have increased (see, e.g.[5]) due to globalization, rising incomes, and changing working patterns that allow for additional short breaks.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [5]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    Microscopic travel demand models allow to cope with the heterogeneity of a population and, hence, the individual framework conditions and resulting decisions of each individual.

    “Microscopic travel demand models allow to cope with the heterogeneity of a population and, hence, the individual framework conditions and resulting decisions of each individual.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Before running the simulation, the model output was compared to the existing input data for validation.

    “Before running the simulation, the model output was compared to the existing input data for validation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The models for the assignment of mobility-related attributes as well as choice models can be replaced whenever a more suitable data source is available.

    “Thanks to the framework's modular structure, the models for the assignment of mobility-related attributes as well as choice models can be replaced whenever a more suitable data source is available.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The higher share of car trips and lower share of cycling among tourists is due to restricted availability, as travelers arriving by car, plane or public transport would not take their bike from home.

    “This is due to restricted availability, as it is assumed that travelers 4 that arrive by car, plane or public transport would not take their bike from home.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: Travelers who arrive by car, plane or public transport would not take their bike from home.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    During the model set-up, major gaps in data availability for touristic travel behavior were identified.

    “Nevertheless, during the model set-up, major gaps in data availability for touristic travel behavior were identified.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The application of the model in Hamburg provides first evidence that results broaden knowledge and are beneficial for planning authorities.

    “The application of the model in the planning area of Hamburg provides first evidence that results obtained broaden knowledge and are hence beneficial for planning authorities.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The origin of travelers is not considered in the current model.

    “The origin of travelers is not considered in the current model.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Reasons for travel currently are only considered to distinguish between business and private travelers.

    “Reasons for travel currently are only considered to distinguish between business and private travelers.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationnone given

    touriTopp grants the possibility to include empirically-based activity plans.

    “It grants the possibility to include empirically-based activity plans.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Travelers are currently not simulated as individual agents; a travel agent represents an entire travel group.

    “To be able to represent common trips, travelers are currently not simulated as individual agents.”
    • Also stated in: § DISCUSSION · plain
      “Instead, a travel agent represents an entire travel group.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Travelers are distributed over the course of the week and obtain various characteristics.

    “Furthermore, travelers are distributed over the course of the week and obtain various characteristics.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationnone given

    The traveler model presented is based on rule-based decision models.

    “The traveler model presented is based on rule-based decision models.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Due to data availability, the modeling was challenging, and the model had to be simplified.

    “Due to the data availability, the modeling was challenging, and the model had to be simplified.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    The model allows for differentiation between trips with business and private purposes and different durations.

    “The model allows for differentiation between trips with business and private purposes and different durations.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
38 of 38

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    People who travel together make all the trips on their journey together.

    “It is assumed that people who travel together make all the trips on their journey together.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Travelers who arrive by car, plane or public transport would not take their bike from home.

    “as it is assumed that travelers 4 that arrive by car, plane or public transport would not take their bike from home.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    A distribution for commuter ticket ownership among travelers was assumed.

    “A distribution was assumed, which was validated during the calibration of the model.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    People who visit relatives and people who undertake cultural trips choose different activities.

    “However, it is assumed that people who visit relatives and people who untertake cultural trips choose different activities.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No suitable model was available that acknowledged the different nature of travel behavior on-site from tourists compared to residents.

    “So far, no suitable model was available that acknowledged the different nature of travel behavior on-site from tourists compared to residents.”
5 of 5

Cites

The publisher hasn’t deposited this paper’s reference list.

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. UNWTO, "World Tourism Barometer Vol. 18, No.1," 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.e-unwto.org/loi/wtobarometereng?expanded=d2020.v18. [Accessed 30 07 2021].
  2. T. Wieland, J. Müller, C. J. Schladot and K. Schwager, "Geschäftlich motivierter Städtetourismus -die Fallstudien Hannover, Wolfsburg, Göttingen und Lübeck," in Orte, Wege, Visionen : Aktuelle Ansätze der Tourismusgeographie. Hrsg.: T. Reeh, Universitätsverlag Göttingen, 2011, pp. 11-33.
  3. C. Gloor, L. Mauron and K. Nagel, "A pedestrian simulator for hiking in the alps," in 3rd Swiss Transport Research Conference, Ascona, Switzerland, 2003.
  4. W. Scherr, C. Joshi, P. Manser, N. Frischknecht and D. Métrailler, "MOBi.plans: A Microscopic, Activity-Based Travel Demand Model of Switzerland.," in 19th Swiss Transport Research Conference, Ascona, Switzerland, 2019.

Authors
Ulrich, J., Wilkes, G., Kostorz, N., Briem, L., Kagerbauer, M., & Vortisch, P.
ORCID
Venue
Transportation Research Board (TRB)
Publisher
Transportation Research Board (TRB)
Published
2022
DOI
10.5445/ir/1000143337
OpenAlex
W7126208049
Cited by
0
References
0
FWCI
0.00
Type
conference paper
Language
en
Open access
Licence
publikationen.bibliothek.kit.edu/kitopen-lizenz
Locations
  • Repository KITopen (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
  • KITopen (other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Transportation › Transportation Planning and Optimization
  • Social Sciences › Transportation › Human Mobility and Location-Based Analysis
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Control and Systems Engineering › Traffic control and management
Keywords
travel demand modeling, agent-based modeling, business travelers, tourists, overnight trips, mode choice, trip length, traffic flow, transportation planning, Hamburg

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