The University of Queensland, Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Abstract
Introduction It is now well established that the built environment can facilitate or hinder physical activity (PA), including walking and cycling for transport purposes. However, the greatest majority of the evidence relies on self-reported measures of PA. Questionnaires have a low level of accuracy compared to devices such as accelerometers and pedometers which serve to objectively measure PA. With rapid technological advancements including the widespread availability of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and GPS-equipped smartphones, the opportunities have widened for researchers and practitioners to investigate people’s PA. These technologies are especially useful to study PA in young people, as they are often less willing to participate in studies using conventional methods of data collection (e.g. surveys, accelerometers). This study introduces a custom-designed smartphone app to collect PA data during transport and, shows how the data collected by the app can provide us with insights about young people’s transport-related PA in relation to the built environment and trip characteristics. Methods We designed and implemented a smartphone app for both iOS and Android platforms which captures all movements of its users. The app includes post-processing algorithms that among other functions, detect the types of activities within a trip. For example, a trip from A to B may consist of multiple modal activities (e.g. walking, public transport, walking). In this study, we present an algorithm to extract/calculate the details of users’ single modal activities. Data from 170 university students in Brisbane, Australia was collected using the app for an average of three days per participant. The data includes 2353 single modal activities. We conducted descriptive analysis and developed a multiple regression model to reveal the impact of built environment attributes and trip characteristics on transport-related PA. Results Among other findings, the study results show that a high proportion of walking distance over the total distance of a trip was associated with a high access to public transport and having few trips per day. In addition, education trips involved more walking distances compared to other types of trips. Discussion This study proposes a new and effective approach to collect accurate and detailed data on young people’s PA using a smartphone app. This study provides empirical support on how smartphone apps can aid household travel surveys and collect detailed data on PA patterns at low cost. Understanding PA during travel is relevant to support investments and programs that support sustainable modes of transport, such as walking and cycling. Support/Funding Source This research was partially funded by Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), under the TAP agreement with the University of Queensland, Centre for Transport Strategy
