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A Nested Ensemble Approach with ANNs to Investigate the Effect of Socioeconomic Attributes on Active Commuting of University Students

Author

Listed:
  • Khaled Assi

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

  • Uneb Gazder

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Bahrain (Issa Town Campus), Zallaq 32038, Bahrain)

  • Ibrahim Al-Sghan

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

  • Imran Reza

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

  • Abdullah Almubarak

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA)

Abstract

Analysis of travel mode choice is vital in policymaking and transportation planning to comprehend and forecast travel demands. Universities resemble major trip attraction hubs, with many students and faculty members living on campus or nearby. This study aims to investigate the effects of socioeconomic characteristics on the travel mode choice of university students. A nested ensemble approach with artificial neural networks (ANNs) was used to model the mode choice behavior. It was found that students generally prefer motorized modes (bus and car). A more detailed analysis revealed that teenage students (aged 17–19 years) had an approximately equal probability of selecting motorized and non-motorized modes. Graduate students revealed a higher tendency to select motorized modes compared with other students. The findings of this study demonstrate the need to promote non-motorized modes of transport among students, which is possible by providing favorable infrastructure for these modes.

Suggested Citation

  • Khaled Assi & Uneb Gazder & Ibrahim Al-Sghan & Imran Reza & Abdullah Almubarak, 2020. "A Nested Ensemble Approach with ANNs to Investigate the Effect of Socioeconomic Attributes on Active Commuting of University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:10:p:3549-:d:360145
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Beno Mesarec & Branka Trček, 2024. "Suggestions and Solutions for Enhancing Active Commuting to the University of Maribor and Advancing CO 2 Emission Reduction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-21, January.
    2. Ximena Palma-Leal & Palma Chillón & Víctor Segura-Jiménez & Alejandro Pérez-Bey & Alejandro Sánchez-Delgado & Daniel Camiletti-Moirón, 2022. "Commuting to University: Self-Reported and Device-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Antonio Castillo-Paredes & Natalia Inostroza Jiménez & Maribel Parra-Saldías & Ximena Palma-Leal & José Luis Felipe & Itziar Págola Aldazabal & Ximena Díaz-Martínez & Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez, 2021. "Environmental and Psychosocial Barriers Affect the Active Commuting to University in Chilean Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Ximena Palma-Leal & Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez & Pablo Campos-Garzón & Antonio Castillo-Paredes & Palma Chillón, 2021. "New Self-Report Measures of Commuting Behaviors to University and Their Association with Sociodemographic Characteristics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-14, November.
    5. Branka Trček & Beno Mesarec, 2022. "Pathways to Alternative Transport Mode Choices among University Students and Staff—Commuting to the University of Maribor since 2010," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-19, September.

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