M obiplan: an Internet-based personal mobility advisor

Abstract

This paper describes the design and the implementation of the Internet-based M obiplan tool, an information and advisory tool for individual space–time-behavior. Everyday mobility is substantially influenced by previously made long-range decisions—such as choice of residential location or workplace—which are usually made without complete knowledge about their effects. M obiplan provides information on the personal, social and environmental effects of long-range-decisions in order to highlight them and, as well, to influence these decisions and, in turn, the daily space–time-behavior that derives from them. Two main services, a site mode presenting quick as well as detailed information about the vicinity of a specific address and an advisory mode for the analyses of individual space–time-behavior, have been implemented. The latter offers three levels of functionality—an overview, the advisory mode for single or multiple day(s), and a projection of the daily results to 1 year. In the advisory modes, M obiplan calculates the effects of a given or hypothetical activity chain and shows transport alternatives. Missing information is imputed or selected by the user based on system suggestions derived from linked Internet data sources. The users are free to change any aspect of their situation and to adjust their activity chains to explore the effects of such changes on the costs incurred. The evaluation covers the private and social, fixed and variable vehicle and transport usage costs. Since its official release during the project's final conference in August 2001, M obiplan is available at www.mobiplan.de free of charge.