Research and analysis

Using FUSION outputs to support activity-based transport models

Explores integrating time use surveys and travel diaries with anonymised smartphone location data to improve evidence for activity-based travel modelling.

• From: Department for Transport
• Published: 28 May 2026

Documents

FUSION outputs supporting the exploration of activity-based models

PDF, 1.48 MB, 20 pages

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Details

This report examines the use of FUSION outputs to improve the quality of behavioural evidence for activity-based travel modelling.

FUSION stands for ‘fusion of user surveys and integrated online navigation’. The study demonstrates that combining time use surveys and travel diaries with anonymised smartphone GPS data provides more useful and realistic inputs for activity-based models than traditional surveys alone.

Linking detailed survey context with 6 months of location traces and Department for Transport (DfT) user personas helped to validate daily activity schedules and provided insight into:

• activity patterns
• travel timing
• behavioural differences across population groups

SYSTRA carried out this exploratory study on behalf of DfT.

Published 28 May 2026