Algorithms versus survey response: Comparing a smart travel and mobility survey with a web diary

Smart surveys are intended to reduce response burden and increase data quality. This paper analyzes the extent to which the data collected with a smart travel survey matches the responses to a conventional web diary. For this purpose, travel and movement behavior data was collected with a travel app and classified by different algorithms. The respondents had to fill out the same information in a web diary, which is used to evaluate the algorithm-based output. Different app algorithms were used, and the impact of respondent interaction with the app on data quality was analyzed. The results show that the algorithm-based results and the web response are comparable when classifying periods of movement and stationary. Regarding the information on the mode of transport used, the match between the web response and the manual-added information in the app is poorer. Moreover, results show that respondent interaction is essential in improving smart survey data quality. This study shows how important the choice of the input parameters of the algorithms is and what technical flexibility smart travel surveys require to measure travel and movement behavior accurately.