Workshop synthesis: Data Fusion - Generating More Than a Sum of Parts

Abstract

This report summarizes the insights from a workshop conducted during the 12th International Conference on Transport Survey Methods focusing on data fusion. The workshop discussion and the presentations illustrated that data fusion comes in many ways utilizing various data and methodologies. While much of the academic literature and practical applications of data fusion in transport apply to travel demand modelling, fusion in the context of travel survey data production is still in its infancy. Despite data fusion's acknowledged potential, a reason for this hesitancy is a lack of quality standards. The report recommends future research to improve knowledge about the suitability of data and methodologies for fusion and the development of respective standards. This will be necessary to convince stakeholders that the quality of fused data is not inferior to any single data source, be it travel survey data or, e.g. mobile phone data.