A new approach to modelling distance-decay functions for accessibility assessment in transport studies

This paper tries to break new ground in how distance-decay relationships are modelled in accessibility and transport demand studies and does it based on an innovative approach to empirical data collection on psychological perceptions of distance in relation with activities located in space and a new aggregate distance-decay function. This new approach improves on the quality of the representation of spatial interaction effects on transport demand modelling studies that commonly rely on generic curves barely confronted with empirical data. We compare the level of fit of the proposed curve with other distance-decay functions mentioned in the literature and used in practice and draw relevant conclusions on the proper model specification.

► Presentation of a new framework to determine distance-decay functions based on empirical data. ► Estimation process of the observed distance-decay function. ► Comparison of proposed impedance function with other functions available in the literature. ► This new formulation is able to capture the spatio-temporal perception of accessibility.