1. What is the research study about?
This research study aims to collect information about the personal
travel behaviour and time-use patterns of individuals. Information
about people's day-to-day travel behaviour and time-use are critical
to predict future travel demand and infrastructure needs.
2. What is the relevance of gathering data about time use and
activities?
Time-use data is essential in transport research as it provides
insights into how individuals allocate their time for travel and other
activities. By analysing these patterns, researchers can better
understand travel behaviour, mode choice, and route preferences,
helping to shape more efficient and user-centred transport systems.
This data also informs policy decisions by highlighting the trade-offs
people make between travel time, cost, and comfort. Moreover, it
connects transport planning with broader societal aspects such as
work-life balance, accessibility, and well-being, making it a valuable
tool for designing sustainable and equitable mobility solutions.
3. What is the relevance of gathering data about long-term expenses?
Expenditure data, along with time-use data, are essential for
developing econometric models to estimate the value of leisure time.
This measure is particularly important in transport investment
decisions, such as whether to invest in improving travel quality or
reducing travel time.
4. Who is conducting this research?
The study is being carried out by the following researchers: Professor
Taha H. Rashidi and Maliheh Tabasi, Research Associate, School of
Civil and Environmental Engineering, Research Centre for Integrated
Transport Innovation (rCITI).
5. Who is the research funder?
This research is being funded by the University of New South Wales
(UNSW).
6. What is the time frame of this study?
The data collection will be conducted in 2025.
7. What are the inclusion criteria for participating in the smartphone
study?
The research study is looking to recruit people who meet the following
criteria:
- Aged 18 or older
- Currently reside in the Sydney metropolitan area, Australia
- Must not work as a professional driver (Bus, taxi, truck)
-
Must be invited via our social media ads or as a research marketing
company’s panel member
-
If invited via social media, must provide a valid email address to
receive instructions
- Own a smartphone that can install the tracking app
- Be able to walk 200m without pain or any other discomfort
8. How can I participate in the study?
To participate in this study, you must either be invited via our
social media ads or join as a panel member through a research
marketing company.
9. Do I have to take part in this research study?
Participation in any research study is voluntary. If you do not want
to take part, you do not have to.
If you decide you want to take part in the research study, you will be
asked to:
- Read the information carefully (ask questions if necessary);
- Complete the online onboarding questionnaire;
-
Participate in a seven-day-long data collection with Fourstep, a
GPS-based travel and time-use survey smartphone application;
- Complete the final questionnaire.
10. What does participation in this research require, and are there
any risks involved?
If you decide to take part in the research study, we will ask you to
complete an online onboarding questionnaire. The questionnaire will
ask you questions about your sociodemographic attributes and vehicle
ownership. It should take approximately 3 minutes to complete. Then,
you will be presented with hypothetical scenarios regarding time use
within this online survey. For each scenario, you are asked to select
the alternative you prefer the most. This should take approximately 2
minutes to complete.
Then, you will be asked to install and use Fourstep for the duration
of the study. Fourstep is a location-aware mobile application, which
automatically senses and securely stores information about your travel
behaviour. Fourstep operates unobtrusively in the background and
relies on your smartphone's sensors (GPS and accelerometer) to record
your movements. Fourstep also requests additional information about
your travel behaviour in the form of short questionnaires that are
usually presented at the end of a trip. You will be asked to keep
Fourstep active for seven days. You will be required to always carry
your smartphone on you during the study period and to ensure that your
smartphone's battery is always sufficiently charged. At the end of the
seven-day study period, you will need to uninstall Fourstep once the
research team has confirmed your successful participation.
The duration of this research study is seven days. Participation in
this research study is expected to require the following amounts of
your time:
- 5 minutes to install the Fourstep app;
- Less than 1 minute to add trip details;
-
Less than 1 minute to add each activity attributes to the time-use
section;
Assuming that you complete an average of four trips per day and insert
eight time-use activities per day, it is expected that participation
in this research study will not consume more than 30 minutes of your
time during the entire study period.
Upon completing the tracking with Fourstep, you will receive a final
online questionnaire about your long-term expenses, which should take
less than 5 minutes to complete.
All data collected through Fourstep are encrypted and securely
transferred to a data server located on the UNSW campus in Kensington,
NSW. Fourstep is designed to minimise data volume usage when
transferring data between your device and the server. If both WiFi and
cellular network signals are available. Fourstep first uses WiFi to
transmit and receive data. If WiFi is unavailable, Fourstep relies on
your mobile data plan, whenever a cellular signal is available. You
will not be reimbursed for any expenses related to the data usage of
Fourstep. Even though Fourstep has been designed to minimise energy
consumption, the continued use of location services in the background
can dramatically decrease your smartphone's battery life.
If you experience discomfort or feelings of distress while
participating in the research and you require support, you can stop
participating at any time. You can also tell a member of the research
team, and they will provide you with assistance.
11. What data are collected by the Fourstep app?
This app automatically, in the background, tracks your location,
accelerometer, device-generated activity recognition and battery
usage. It uses this data to automatically generate a travel diary and
display it to you. It also allows you to optionally annotate the
travel diary with richer details or with experience information. When
you launch the app, it logs information about your phone type
(android/iOS), make, model and version. This metadata helps the
developer to correlate app problems with specific phones (e.g.
https://dontkillmyapp.com/ ).
12. What is the purpose of collecting the data?
The collected data will be strictly used for research purposes and
handled in accordance with data protection guidelines. It will be
securely stored and may be utilised for future scientific studies.
Personal identification will not be possible, and the data will never
be shared or sold to third parties. Your trip, activities, and
long-term expenses information, in an unidentifiable and aggregated
format, will be used to develop behavioural models of travel demand
which are essential tools in transport planning and infrastructure
investment analysis. The output of these models will help transport
authorities gain more insight into travel and time-use patterns of
travellers and make more informed decisions about transport
infrastructure including but not limited to the public transport
system.
13. Is my data kept safe?
We highly prioritise the protection of your personal information,
particularly when it comes to collecting, storing, and using location
data. Your data will never be shared with third parties and will be
used solely for research purposes. Your data will be stored on a
secure data server located at the UNSW campus in Kensington, NSW. You
have full control over your data and can request its deletion or
blocking at any time without needing to provide a reason. Simply email
us at
[email protected]
to make such a request. All data will be processed in an entirely
anonymised manner for the purposes of this study’s analysis.
14. What are the possible benefits of participation?
By using the Fourstep app during the data collection process, you have
the opportunity to gain valuable insights into your travel behaviour
and time-use patterns, helping you identify areas for improvement. The
Fourstep app will generate a personalised travel and time-use report
based on the data you provide, which you can access directly through
the app.
Furthermore, your trip, activity, and expense information, in an
anonymised and aggregated format, will contribute to the development
of behavioural models for travel demand, which are essential tools in
transport planning and infrastructure investment analysis. The
insights gained from these models will help transport authorities
better understand travellers’ travel and time-use patterns, enabling
them to make more informed decisions about transport infrastructure,
including but not limited to public transport systems.
It is hoped that the findings of this research study will support
strategic policymaking in transport and infrastructure planning. By
participating, you are contributing to the future of transport!
15. What will happen to information about me?
Submission of the online questionnaire is an indication of your
consent. By clicking the ‘I agree’ button on the Fourstep application
you are providing your permission for the research team to collect and
use information about you for the research study. Your trip, activity,
and expense information, in an unidentifiable and aggregated format,
will be used to develop behavioural models of travel demand which are
essential tools in transport planning and infrastructure investment
analysis. The output of these models will help transport authorities
gain more insight into travel and time-use patterns of travellers and
make more informed decisions about transport infrastructure including
but not limited to the public transport system.
The research team will store the data collected from you for this
research project:
- Indefinitely for future research purposes.
The information about you will be stored in a:
- Non-identifiable format where your identity will be unknown.
You will be asked to provide your consent for the research team to
share or use the information collected from you in future research
that:
- Will be specific to the aims of this research;
Your information will only be shared in a format that will not
identify you.
16. How and when will I find out what the results of the research
study are?
The research team intend to publish and report the results of the
research. All Information will be published in a way that will not
identify you.
If you would like to receive a copy of the results you can let the
research team know by sending an email to
[email protected]. We will only use these details to send you the results of the
research.
17. What if I want to withdraw from the research study?
If you choose to participate, you may withdraw at any time. To do so,
simply close the questionnaire or uninstall the FourStep mobile app
from your phone. Then, please email us at
[email protected]
to notify us of your withdrawal. If you decide to withdraw, we will
ensure that any information already collected is deleted. Once you
have submitted the questionnaire, however, we will not be able to
withdraw your responses as the questionnaire is anonymous.
The information you provide is personal information for the purposes
of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW). You
have the right of access to personal information held about you by the
University, the right to request correction and amendment of it, and
the right to make a complaint about a breach of the Information
Protection Principles as contained in the PPIP Act. Further
information on how the University protects personal information is
available in the
UNSW Privacy Management Plan.
18. What should I do if I have further questions about my involvement
in the research study?
The person you may need to contact will depend on the nature of your
query. If you require further information regarding this study or if
you have any problems which may be related to your involvement in the
study, you can contact the email address from which the token to log
in to Fourstep was sent to your email address ([email protected]
or
[email protected]). If you have any general queries, feel free to get in touch with
the following member of the research team:
|
Name
|
Prof Taha H. Rashidi |
|
Position
|
Professor |
|
Telephone
|
(+61 2) 9385 5063 |
|
Email
|
[email protected]
|
19. What if I have a complaint or any concerns about the research
study?
If you have a complaint regarding any aspect of the study or the way
it is being conducted, please contact the UNSW Human Ethics
Coordinator:
|
Position
|
Human Research Ethics Coordinator |
|
Telephone
|
(+61 2) 9385 6222 |
|
Email
|
[email protected]
|
|
HC Reference Number
|
HC230534 |
20. What is the name of the smartphone app that is used to record
trips and places?
Fourstep
21. Where can I download the app?
You can download the Fourstep app using the following links or QR
codes:
Download Fourstep for iOS
Scan the QR code with your phone’s camera or tap the button
below:
Alternatively, you can open the App Store on your phone, search
for
"Fourstep"
and install it.
Download Fourstep for Android
Scan the QR code with your phone’s camera or tap the button
below:
Alternatively, you can open the Play Store on your phone, search
for
"Fourstep"
and install it.
22. How can I log in to the app?
You need a token to log into the Fourstep app. Please refer to this
step-by-step guide:
23. What is a token?
Your token is a unique text string that begins with
'fourstep_timeuse_' followed by a sequence of random letters and
numbers. You can use it to log in to Fourstep. Our research team
uses these tokens to link data from online questionnaires with the
data recorded by the Fourstep app.
24. Where can I get a token from?
Only invited participants have access to a token. Your token has
been given to you after completing the online onboarding survey. It
has also been sent to your email address. If you have not been
invited but would like to participate in our study, please email us
at
[email protected].
25. How can I give the required permission to the Fourstep app?
It is essential to grant all required permissions to the Fourstep
app so it can accurately record your trips and places. The process
for granting permissions depends on your phone's model and operating
system.
Fourstep requires access to 'Location' and 'Motion & Fitness'
sensors, as well as 'Notifications' on iPhones while on Android
devices it requires access to the 'Location' and 'Physical Activity'
sensors, 'Notifications', and permission to 'Run in the background'
to passively record travel and detect travel modes.
When logging in to the Fourstep app, you will see a list of required
permissions. Under each permission, you will find instructions on
how to grant it.
In general, you need to:
Tap on each permission and select 'Allow' or 'Allow all the time'.
If necessary, manually enable the required permissions in your
phone's settings.
For detailed instructions, please refer to Step 4 in this
step-by-step guide:
If you need further assistance, please email us at
[email protected]
26. Does Fourstep’s continuous recording drain my phone’s battery?
Fourstep is designed to minimise energy consumption; however,
continuous use of location services in the background may drain your
smartphone's battery. During the study period, please ensure your
phone remains sufficiently charged.
27. I have no internet connection. Will the app work?
Fourstep can track your location and record your trips and places
even when you're offline. However, you will need an internet
connection for the app to process and display your recorded data. To
make sure your data is processed properly, try connecting to the
internet after your trips. You also need an internet connection to
view and validate your trips and places in the app. While the app
can track your trips without the internet, you’ll need it to use the
app fully.
28. I have technical issues with the app. What should I do?
Please go to the Profile tab in the Fourstep app. Tap on 'Share Log'
and email the generated .txt file, along with your explanation of
the issue, to us at
[email protected].
29. What are the white cards with a map on the left side in the Label
tab of the app?
The white cards represent your recorded trips that have been
processed on the app's server. You can view trip details on the
card, as shown below.
A recorded trip card in Fourstep
30. What are the blue cards in the Label tab of the app?
The blue cards represent the places where you have stayed before and
after your trips. These are referred to as 'places' in the app. You
can view the place details on the card, as shown below.
A recorded place card in Fourstep
31. Do I need to validate my trips and places?
Yes, this is a fundamental part of the study. Your validation
provides valuable information about your trips and activities.
To validate your trips, please add trip details by tapping the 'Add
Trip Details' button and record the activities you performed during
your trip by tapping the 'Add Activity' button.
To validate your places, add the daily activities you performed
while staying at each place using the 'Add Activity' button.
For a detailed tutorial, please refer to the resources below:
32. Why is it important to validate your activities daily?
We recommend validating your activities daily to ensure your diary
is as complete and accurate as possible. As time passes, it's easy
to forget the details of your day.
33. I have added trip details to my recorded trip, but it is still not
considered validated. Why?
Trip validation involves two steps: First, add trip details by
tapping the 'Add Trip Details' button. Second, add the activities
you performed during the trip by tapping the 'Add Activity' button.
You may have forgotten to add an activity to your trip. If you have
performed no activity during your trip, select “Other” and then “No
activity” after tapping on “Add Activity” button.
34. How long will it take to validate a full day of trips and places?
Once you're comfortable with the process and the buttons in the app,
it should take you less than ten minutes a day to validate a full
day of trips and places. Keep in mind that you can only validate
trips and locations that have already been tracked.
35. Is it necessary to enable location access for the app?
Yes, enabling this feature is essential for the app to function
properly.
36. How do I know if the tracking is working?
You can confirm that tracking has been successful if you see trips
and places for a given day in the Label tab of the app, an hour
after the last trip ends, while connected to the internet. If you
notice that tracking isn’t working, please make sure you’ve granted
all the necessary permissions to the Fourstep app. You can check
this by tapping on “App status” in the “Profile” tab of the app.
If the issue persists, feel free to email us at
[email protected]..
37. The app is tracking trips or places that I haven’t made or
visited. What should I do?
It’s normal for the app to occasionally track unrealistic trips or
places. If the app records an unrealistic trip, please select ‘Trip
not valid’ after tapping the ‘Add Trip Details’ button. If it
records an unrealistic place, please select ‘Not Valid’ after
tapping the ‘Add Activity’ button.
38. Why is the trip card grey instead of white, and why are there no
blue place cards around it?
This happens when you complete a trip and less than an hour has
passed since you connected to the internet after the trip. The grey
trip card represents the tracked trip, but it hasn't yet been
processed by the server, so the place cards cannot be generated.
Please connect to the internet, and the issue will be resolved
within an hour of your connection.
39. Do I need to validate anything other than my recorded trips?
Yes, you need to validate your recorded places in the app. To
validate your places, add the daily activities you performed while
staying at each place.
For a detailed tutorial, please refer to the resources below:
40. What is the list of activities I can choose from?
The app shows a list of activities when you tap the 'Add Activity'
button. Simply choose one or more activities that correspond to what
you did. The major activity categories include Employment-related
activities, Education activities, Personal care activities, Social
interaction activities, and Other activities.
When you tap on a major category, the subcategory activities will be
displayed. If the activity you want to enter is not listed, select
the 'Other' category and type the activity title in the provided
text box.
41. What are the red cards tagged as 'untracked'?
If, due to technical issues or your smartphone being turned off, the
Fourstep app cannot track your location using your phone’s GPS
sensors, the period with no tracked data is displayed as a red card
labelled 'untracked', as shown below. Unfortunately, you cannot
validate that period.
The untracked period is displayed as a red card in the Fourstep
app
If this happens, please ensure your smartphone has sufficient
battery charge while carrying it with you during the participation
period. Additionally, make sure you have granted all required
permissions for the app to function correctly. If the issue
persists, please contact our team at
[email protected].
42. How can I see the latest available data in the Label tab of the
app?
Tap the refresh icon on the top-right side of the Label tab in the
app to see the latest available data.
43. How do I know if my study participation has been successful?
Your participation is considered successful if all your trips and
places are tracked correctly in Sydney and you validate them
properly in the app during the participation period. If you're
unsure, you can contact us at
[email protected]
to check whether your participation is successful.
44. How much time does it take to participate in this study?
|
Online onboarding questionnaire
|
5 minutes |
|
Installing Fourstep and logging in
|
5 minutes |
|
Validating your trips and places
|
Less than 10 minutes per day |
|
Final online questionnaire
|
Less than 5 minutes |
45. Can I travel abroad during my participation in this study?
To participate, you need to regularly track your trips within
Sydney. If you travel abroad, you can install the app and begin
tracking when you return. However, if you will be away for more than
two weeks, we kindly recommend reconsidering your participation.
46. Can I turn off my phone during my participation in this study?
We recommend keeping your phone turned on during your participation
to ensure continuous tracking of your trips and places. If your
phone is turned off, the app will not be able to record data during
that time, which may affect the completeness of your participation.
47. Can I disable location access for the app during my participation
in this study?
Disabling location access will prevent the app from tracking your
trips and places, which is essential for the study. To ensure
accurate data collection, please keep location access enabled at all
times during your participation.
