IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i7p4027-d530341.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Mobility during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Data-Driven Time-Geographic Analysis of Health-Induced Mobility Changes

Author

Listed:
  • Marina Toger

    (Department of Social and Economic Geography, Uppsala University, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden
    Urban Lab at Institute for Housing and Urban Research, Uppsala University, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Karima Kourtit

    (Department of Social and Economic Geography, Uppsala University, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden
    The Faculty of Management, Open University, 6419 Heerlen, The Netherlands
    Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, 700506 Iași, Romania
    School of Architecture, Planning and Design, Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco)

  • Peter Nijkamp

    (The Faculty of Management, Open University, 6419 Heerlen, The Netherlands
    Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, 700506 Iași, Romania
    School of Architecture, Planning and Design, Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
    Geography and Spatial Management, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-712 Poznan, Poland)

  • John Östh

    (Department of Social and Economic Geography, Uppsala University, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden
    Urban Lab at Institute for Housing and Urban Research, Uppsala University, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden
    Department of Civil Engineering and Energy Technology, OsloMet, Pilestredet 32, 0166 Oslo, Norway)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the spatial mobility of a major part of the population in many countries. For most people, this was an extremely disruptive shock, resulting in loss of income, social contact and quality of life. However, forced to reduce human physical interaction, most businesses, individuals and households developed new action lines and routines, and were gradually learning to adapt to the new reality. Some of these changes might result in long-term changes in opportunity structures and in spatial preferences for working, employment or residential location choice, and for mobility behavior. In this paper we aim to extend the time-geographic approach to analyzing people’s spatial activities, by focusing on health-related geographical mobility patterns during the pandemic in Sweden. Starting from a micro-approach at individual level and then looking at an aggregate urban scale, we examine the space-time geography during the coronavirus pandemic, using Hägerstrand’s time-geography model. We utilize a massive but (location-wise) fuzzy dataset to analyze aggregate spatiotemporal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic using a contemporary time-geographical approach. First, we address micro-level behavior in time-space to understand the mechanisms of change and to illustrate that a temporal drastic change in human mobility seems to be plausible. Then we analyze the changes in individuals’ mobility by analyzing their activity spaces in aggregate using mobile phone network data records. Clearly, it is too early for predicting long-term spatial changes, but a clear heterogeneity in spatial behavior can already be detected. It seems plausible that the corona pandemic may have long-lasting effects on employment centers, city roles and spatial mobility patterns.

Suggested Citation

  • Marina Toger & Karima Kourtit & Peter Nijkamp & John Östh, 2021. "Mobility during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Data-Driven Time-Geographic Analysis of Health-Induced Mobility Changes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-21, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:7:p:4027-:d:530341
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/7/4027/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/7/4027/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zoltán Kovács & György Vida & Ábel Elekes & Tamás Kovalcsik, 2021. "Combining Social Media and Mobile Positioning Data in the Analysis of Tourist Flows: A Case Study from Szeged, Hungary," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Schönfelder, Stefan & Axhausen, Kay W., 2003. "Activity spaces: measures of social exclusion?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 10(4), pages 273-286, October.
    3. Richard Florida & Andres Rodriguez-Pose & Michael Storper, 2020. "Cities in a Post-COVID World," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2041, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Sep 2020.
    4. Annie Doubleday & Youngjun Choe & Tania Busch Isaksen & Scott Miles & Nicole A Errett, 2021. "How did outdoor biking and walking change during COVID-19?: A case study of three U.S. cities," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, January.
    5. Bi Yu Chen & Yafei Wang & Donggen Wang & Qingquan Li & William H. K. Lam & Shih-Lung Shaw, 2018. "Understanding the Impacts of Human Mobility on Accessibility Using Massive Mobile Phone Tracking Data," Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 108(4), pages 1115-1133, July.
    6. Raun, Janika & Ahas, Rein & Tiru, Margus, 2016. "Measuring tourism destinations using mobile tracking data," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 202-212.
    7. Matz Dahlberg & Per-Anders Edin & Erik Gronqvist & Johan Lyhagen & John Osth & Alexey Siretskiy & Marina Toger, 2020. "Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Population Mobility under Mild Policies: Causal Evidence from Sweden," Papers 2004.09087, arXiv.org.
    8. Marina Toger & Ian Shuttleworth & John Osth, 2020. "How average is average? Temporal patterns in human behaviour as measured by mobile phone data -- or why chose Thursdays," Papers 2005.00137, arXiv.org.
    9. Helen Couclelis, 2020. "There will be no Post-COVID city," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 47(7), pages 1121-1123, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Nataliya Rybnikova & Dani Broitman & Daniel Czamanski, 2023. "Initial signs of post-covid-19 physical structures of cities in Israel," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Veronika Harantová & Alica Kalašová & Simona Skřivánek Kubíková & Jaroslav Mazanec & Radomíra Jordová, 2022. "The Impact of Mobility on Shopping Preferences during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Evidence from the Slovak Republic," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-27, April.
    3. Ali Cheshmehzangi & Maycon Sedrez & Junhang Ren & Dezhou Kong & Yifan Shen & Sinan Bao & Junhao Xu & Zhaohui Su & Ayotunde Dawodu, 2021. "The Effect of Mobility on the Spread of COVID-19 in Light of Regional Differences in the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-24, May.
    4. Marina Toger & Karima Kourtit & Peter Nijkamp, 2021. "From the Guest Editors: Happy and Healthy Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-4, November.
    5. Saskia Sassen & Karima Kourtit, 2021. "A Post-Corona Perspective for Smart Cities: ‘ Should I Stay or Should I Go ?’," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-16, September.
    6. Toger, Marina & Türk, Umut & Östh, John & Kourtit, Karima & Nijkamp, Peter, 2023. "Inequality in leisure mobility: An analysis of activity space segregation spectra in the Stockholm conurbation," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    7. Lukas Hartwig & Reinhard Hössinger & Yusak Octavius Susilo & Astrid Gühnemann, 2022. "The Impacts of a COVID-19 Related Lockdown (and Reopening Phases) on Time Use and Mobility for Activities in Austria—Results from a Multi-Wave Combined Survey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-24, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Toger, Marina & Türk, Umut & Östh, John & Kourtit, Karima & Nijkamp, Peter, 2023. "Inequality in leisure mobility: An analysis of activity space segregation spectra in the Stockholm conurbation," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    2. Lina Hedman & Kati Kadarik & Roger Andersson & John Östh, 2021. "Daily Mobility Patterns: Reducing or Reproducing Inequalities and Segregation?," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(2), pages 208-221.
    3. Tamás Kovalcsik & Ábel Elekes & Lajos Boros & László Könnyid & Zoltán Kovács, 2022. "Capturing Unobserved Tourists: Challenges and Opportunities of Processing Mobile Positioning Data in Tourism Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-20, October.
    4. Tao Liu & Ying Zhang & Huan Zhang & Xiping Yang, 2021. "A Methodological Workflow for Deriving the Association of Tourist Destinations Based on Online Travel Reviews: A Case Study of Yunnan Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-15, April.
    5. Zhang, Wen & Susilo, Yusak O. & Ahmad Termida, Nursitihazlin, 2016. "Investigating the interactions between travellers' familiar areas and their multi-day activity locations," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 61-73.
    6. Di Cataldo, Marco & Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés, 2016. "What drives employment growth and social inclusion in EU regions," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 68510, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Yamilé Pérez Guilarte & Daniel Barreiro Quintáns, 2019. "Using Big Data to Measure Tourist Sustainability: Myth or Reality?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-19, October.
    8. Karst Geurs & Cathy Macharis, 2019. "The future of European communication and transportation research: a research agenda," REGION, European Regional Science Association, vol. 6, pages 1-21.
    9. Duan, Zhengyu & Zhao, Haoran & Li, Zhenming, 2023. "Non-linear effects of built environment and socio-demographics on activity space," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    10. Helai Huang & Jialing Wu & Fang Liu & Yiwei Wang, 2020. "Measuring Accessibility Based on Improved Impedance and Attractive Functions Using Taxi Trajectory Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-23, December.
    11. Oluwayemi-Oniya Aderibigbe & Trynos Gumbo, 2022. "Variations in Mode Choice of Residents Prior and during COVID-19: An Empirical Evidence from Johannesburg, South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    12. Jue Wang & Mei-Po Kwan & Yanwei Chai, 2018. "An Innovative Context-Based Crystal-Growth Activity Space Method for Environmental Exposure Assessment: A Study Using GIS and GPS Trajectory Data Collected in Chicago," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-24, April.
    13. Wang, Yihong & Correia, Gonçalo Homem de Almeida & de Romph, Erik & Timmermans, H.J.P., 2017. "Using metro smart card data to model location choice of after-work activities: An application to Shanghai," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 40-47.
    14. Mondschein, Andrew & Taylor, Brian D & Brumbaugh, Stephen, 2010. "Congestion And Accessibility: What’S The Relationship?," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt8135b0jh, University of California Transportation Center.
    15. Lo, A. W.-T. & Houston, D., 2018. "How do compact, accessible, and walkable communities promote gender equality in spatial behavior?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 42-54.
    16. Tosporn Arreeras & Mikiharu Arimura & Takumi Asada & Saharat Arreeras, 2019. "Association Rule Mining Tourist-Attractive Destinations for the Sustainable Development of a Large Tourism Area in Hokkaido Using Wi-Fi Tracking Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-17, July.
    17. Kristina Gligorić & Arnaud Chiolero & Emre Kıcıman & Ryen W. White & Robert West, 2022. "Population-scale dietary interests during the COVID-19 pandemic," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    18. Younes, Hannah & Nasri, Arefeh & Baiocchi, Giovanni & Zhang, Lei, 2019. "How transit service closures influence bikesharing demand; lessons learned from SafeTrack project in Washington, D.C. metropolitan area," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 83-92.
    19. Ffion Carney, 2021. "Linking Loyalty Card Data to Public Transport Data to Explore Mobility and Social Exclusion in the Older Population," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, May.
    20. Michał Roman & Monika Roman & Arkadiusz Niedziółka, 2020. "Spatial Diversity of Tourism in the Countries of the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-16, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:7:p:4027-:d:530341. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.