Travelers’ Route Choice: Comparing Relative Importance of Metric, Topological and Geometric Distance

Abstract

This study investigates the relative importance of ‘metric distance’(MD),‘topological distance’(TD) and ‘geo-metrical distance’(GMD) in determining the route choice behavior of motorized travelers by mode. The study is based on data which has traced the travelers’ actual movements by using mobile GIS applications. MD, TD and GMD were calculated based on space syntax tool within a GIS environment. The findings indicated that GMD is more appropriate than MD in case of travelers’ who use car and motorcycle, whereas MD is more appropriate than GMD travelers’ who use PT and taxi for mode choice modeling, travel demand simulations and automobile navigation systems.