Activity-based travel as a social signal of the City Satisfaction Index. Study case in a medium-sized city of Argentina

Abstract

The travel based on activities carried out daily by citizens is a social signal that helps interpret the City Satisfaction Index. In the present study, we characterized these daily trips by the mode of transport, motive, duration, area of origin, area of destination, etc, and explored their relationship with four dimensions of citizen satisfaction: Job Opportunities, Urban planning and diversity, Nature and recreation and Reproductive success. This relationship was studied by the partial least squares path modelling and the four dimensions establish a conceptual framework of factors that are relevant for the satisfaction of citizens with their place of residence. The results obtained suggest a double-entry channel: mandatory activities influence the City Satisfaction Index, whereas discretionary, emotional, and self-expressive activities are key indicators of the performance of the index. The data used were based on a survey of the daily commutes of citizens of Tandil, a medium-sized city of Argentina, collected between 2012 and 2016.

Keywords

• Social signals
• Activity-based travel
• Citizen Satisfaction Index
• Social and community intelligence
• Mandatory and discretionary activities