Project R-1835

Changed activity and travel behaviour of people with Multiple Sclerosis: identification of factors based on dynamic activity-based transportation models, while taking into account personal limitations (Research)

Persons with MS suffer from decreased driving ability, mobility and ability to perform activities, increased dependence on the social environment, because of physical, perceptual and cognitive personal limitations. The complete decision processes that individuals with a disease, specifically persons with MS, consider when making a trip, are modelled and explained, taking into account some multi-dimensional personal parameters. For this, dynamic activity-based transportation models are used, to explain and predict for a given time frame and in an integrated fashion, which activities individuals conduct, where, when, for how long, sometimes with whom, the transport mode used and which route. After all, transportation patterns are the result of a complex decision-making process by which individuals try to achieve particular goals in the pursuit of their activities within the spatial-temporal and institutional constraints set by the environment. Moreover, these models take into account temporal dependencies because of learning effects, as well the long-term dynamics related to life trajectories, as the short-term activity-travel rescheduling behaviour, e.g. because of worsening of the disease. Next a number of policy measures can be executed in Feathers, an agent-based micro-simulation, to determine the probable effects of the travel behaviour of transportation disadvantaged populations. On the basis of these researches, governments can determine how to set up their mobility policy, based on the needs of these groups transportation disadvantaged. As well, there is the expectation that the model will identify factors upon which adapted rehabilitation programmes can be represented, to optimize the travel behaviour again.

01 October 2009 - 30 September 2011