Comparison between Physical Parameters and Sensory Parameters Regarding Travel Behavior Based on Sensitivity Analysis

Abstract

An effective way to optimize decision-making regarding the transport mode choice in the transportation system is improving or changing the travel cost, the travel time, or some other travel characteristics by using sensitivity analysis. This method encourages travelers to switch from private transportation to public transport, thus reducing pollution and emission. Furthermore, by searching for the most sensitive factors in travel behavior, the sensitivity analysis might highlight the directions of the improvement. However, according to previous studies, travelers will transfer from one transport mode to another only if the utility of the new choice is higher than the original transport mode. In the current paper, sensitivity analysis is applied to provide a comparison between the impacts of the physical and sensory parameters on the travel behavior and transport mode choice based on a utility function. The multinomial logit (MNL) model is used to estimate and perform the sensitivity analysis of the main variables. The sensitivity analysis demonstrates the degree of the travelers’ sensitivity to changes in the travel characteristics including both physical and sensory parameters. The models are calibrated with the NLOGIT software and validated through statistical indicators; thus, the essential factors influencing the choices are obtained. The input variables selected for the models are based on the data collected in Budapest, Hungary. The sensitivity analysis is determined by the outputs of the variables based on the changes of the input variables. As the results show, the travelers have more sensitivity to the changes in the physical parameters. Furthermore, the outcomes indicate that the travel cost is an essential variable, which greatly affects the decisions related to the transport mode choice. From the sensory parameters, the comfort factor has more influence than other factors. The results of the analysis present that the travelers’ sensitivity to changes in the travel utilities of the travel characteristics impacts the decisions regarding the mode choice behavior significantly.