Can Space–Time Shifting of Activities and Travels Mitigate Hyper-Congestion in an Emerging Megacity, Bangkok? Effects on Quality of Life and CO 2 Emission

Witsarut Achariyaviriya, Yoshitsugu Hayashi, Hiroyuki Takeshita, Masanobu Kii, Varameth Vichiensan and Thanaruk Theeramunkong
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Witsarut Achariyaviriya: Department of Constructional Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Chubu University, Kasugai 487-8501, Aichi, Japan
Yoshitsugu Hayashi: Center for Sustainable Development and Global Smart City, Chubu University, Kasugai 487-8501, Aichi, Japan
Hiroyuki Takeshita: Center for Sustainable Development and Global Smart City, Chubu University, Kasugai 487-8501, Aichi, Japan
Masanobu Kii: Faculty of Engineering and Design, Kagawa University, Hayashi-cho 2217-20, Takamatsu, Japan
Varameth Vichiensan: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Thanaruk Theeramunkong: Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, School of Information, Computer, and Communication Technology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12000, Thailand

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: Many megacities in the world, especially Bangkok, are facing severe congestion in road traffic and public transport, particularly during peak hours. This situation (a) worsens the quality of life, (b) releases emissions causing air pollution and climate change, and (c) subsequently creates requests for massive investment in transport infrastructure, which easily exceed the budget’s limit. Instead of solving the problem by supply-side strategies, applying ICT-based solutions to reform people’s daily activities, particularly commuting and working behaviors, on the demand-side is an alternative solution. As a promising solution, Mobility as a Service (MaaS) introduces ICT to persuade people to use public modes of transport. However, modal shift is a partial solution to mitigate traffic congestion. With technological advancements in communication, people become more flexible in their activities in terms of place and time aspects. MaaS should not only induce a transport mode shift but also a workplace shift and working time shift by extending the planning service in daily activity-travel level, exploiting people’s flexibilities for an activity’s place and time to manage travel demand. This paper proposes the QOL-MaaS as the extended MaaS to support space–time shift of activity-travel and reveals its potential impacts on traffic congestion, quality of life, and CO 2 emission.

Keywords: flexible working; quality of life; MATSim; MaaS; activity-travel planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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