Accuracy Issues with Route Choice Data Collection by Using Global Positioning System

Abstract

Advancements in global positioning system (GPS) technology now make GPS route choice data collection for travel diary studies and other transportation applications a reality. Opportunities abound for increased quantities of data, for improved quality of data, and for new data elements that were once considered too burdensome or expensive to capture. For example, automated travel diaries can electronically capture trip purpose, origin and destination location names, and driver and passenger names at the push of a button. An accompanying GPS receiver can accurately capture origin and destination locations, departure and arrival times, as well as trip lengths and travel routes. This wealth of data can be used to validate or calibrate travel demand models, for in-vehicle information systems analysis, and for modeling mobile source emissions across a given network. These data collection and processing advancements do have their costs, however. In fact, care and caution should be exercised when GPS technologies are selected and used to collect route choice data. The focus of this paper is on the accuracy issues related to route choice data collection and processing using GPS technology. Vendor specifications, observation techniques, data collection procedures, data postprocessing, and the importance of using a reliable and accurate geographic information system (GIS) database are examined in detail. Critical issues in the calculation of GPS accuracy are reviewed. Finally, recent experience in Atlanta is reported, and recommendations designed to reduce the introduction of error into automated route choice data collection are provided.