Investigating the Perception of the Elderly Population About Comfort, Safety and Security When Using Active Modes of Transport

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2023

Authors

Felício, S (Author) Other; Joana Hora (Author) FEUP; Marta Campos Ferreira (Author) FEUP; Abrantes, D (Author) Other; Luna, F (Author) Other; Silva, J (Author) Other; Coimbra, M (Author) Other; Teresa Galvão Dias (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, LNICST

Pages: 304-321

11th EAI International Conference on Wireless Mobile Communication and Healthcare, MobiHealth 2022

30 November 2022 through 2 December 2022

Indexing

Scopus - 1 Citation

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Y-CDM

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-32029-3_26

Abstract (EN): Promoting active modes of transport, such as walking and cycling, has a positive impact on environmental sustainability and the health and well-being of citizens. This study explores the elderly population¿s perception of comfort, safety and security when using active modes of transport. It begins with a systematic review of the literature considering research works that relate to active travel, the elderly population, and random forest. Then a questionnaire was applied to 653 participants and the results were analyzed. This analysis consisted of using statistics to evaluate the socio-demographic profile, the preferences regarding the use of active modes of this population, and the importance given to each dimension: comfort, safety, distance, and time, comparing these indicators through the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test and the Random Forest algorithm. The results showed that people over 56 years old walk as much as younger people. Furthermore, the importance given by this group of people to indicators referring to active modes is related to safety and security, distance, time, and comfort. The statistical results of the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test indicate the most important indicators: Adequate Travel Distance & Time and Existence of Commercial Areas by age group [0¿55], and Absence of Allergenics and Existence of Green Areas by age group [56+]. Finally, the Random Forest algorithm provides the relative importance for both age groups, [0¿55] and [56+], where the indicators that stand out in the [56+] age group, which is the focus of our study, are air quality, adequate travel distance & time, adequate crowd density, adequate thermal sensation, absence of allergenic, good street illumination level, adequate traffic volume, and adequate noise level. © 2023, ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific