App-based Data Collection to Characterize Latent Transportation Demand within Marginalized and Underserved Populations

This interdisciplinary, multi-site, technology transferability study will advance innovative methods in travel data collection and improve the quality of data designed to show latent travel demand, as well as the impacts of mobility on the physical, mental, social, and economic/academic well-being of marginalized and underserved populations living in three diverse regions of the United States (highly segregated and marginalized communities of color in North Texas, a southwest border city, and Appalachia-based rural poverty). The project addresses National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC) themes of Increasing Access to Opportunities and Developing Data, Models, and Tools. The proposed study takes the next step in a smart cities, data-collection innovation study that the research team undertook in 2017 by custom-designing an app, MyAmble. The app collects ecological momentary assessment data related to actual, as well as suppressed travel and unserved transportation activities and their association with psycho-social well-being. The MyAmble app significantly innovates travel demand data collection, by providing additional information on latent demand within underserved populations, as well as features to increase participant retention in real-time, longitudinal, and remote data collection. MyAmble measures not only 1) planned and completed trips, but also 2) planned but uncompleted trips, and 3) latent travel demand (desired but unplanned trips due to pre-existing transportation barriers) using a travel diary format with additional features related to qualitative data collection and participation engagement. The current study will test the transferability of the app across larger and more heterogeneous populations and cross-platform compatibility from tablets to smartphones, which advances it from its current technology readiness level of 6 to level 7. The research team will answer the following four questions: 1) What is the transferability of MyAmble to broader populations of marginalized and underserved communities across 3 states (N = 90); 2) What is the efficacy of MyAmble in a smartphone mode of delivery?; 3) What are the key components necessary for general adoption and use of MyAmble?; 4) What is the quality and usability of the data in terms of showing how types of trips (completed, missed, and latent) associate with physical health, mental health, psycho-social well-being, and economic opportunities for underserved and marginalized populations?

Language

  • English

Project

  • Status: Active
  • Funding: $281516
  • Contract Numbers:

    NITC-1397

    69A3551747112

  • Sponsor Organizations:

    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

    University Transportation Centers Program
    Department of Transportation
    Washington, DC  United States  20590
  • Managing Organizations:

    TREC at Portland State University

    1900 SW Fourth Ave, Suite 175
    P.O. Box 751
    Portland, Oregon  United States  97201
  • Performing Organizations:

    University of Texas, Arlington

    P.O. Box 4089
    Arlington, TX  United States  76010

    University of Arizona, Tucson

    PO Box 210072
    Tucson, AZ  United States  85721

    University of Tennessee, Knoxville

    Knoxville, TN  United States 
  • Principal Investigators:

    Fields, Noelle

    Mattingly, Stephen

    Iroz-Elardo, Nicole

    Levine, David

    Cronley, Courtney

  • Start Date: 20200901
  • Expected Completion Date: 20221231
  • Actual Completion Date: 0
  • USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01746861
  • Record Type: Research project
  • Source Agency: National Institute for Transportation and Communities
  • Contract Numbers: NITC-1397, 69A3551747112
  • Files: UTC, RIP
  • Created Date: Jul 28 2020 4:07PM