H-GAC University Travel Survey
by ETC Institute
Google Play
TRAVEL_AND_LOCAL
Free
0.0
Rating
0
Reviews
10+
Downloads
4
Views
Description
The purpose of this University Travel Survey app is to help local and regional transportation agencies gather data relevant to transport system planning. Participation in each survey is by invitation only. Participants are invited as a result of a previous in-person, on-campus interview. ETC Institute is the app author and the Consultant conducting the travel survey. A public agency such as the Department of Transportation is the ultimate data owner. The name of the data owner is stated inside the app and is revealed in advance communications with each participant.
Survey participants (18 and older) are asked to download the app, install it, and log in with a unique PIN. Prior to downloading the app, the participant provided contact information which allows ETC Institute staff to contact them with any questions or clarifications to update the app User’s trip diary during or after the collection period. After login, the app begins to automatically detect and record stops that the User makes during a prescribed period, usually 24 hours. The User is asked to review the stops and answer a few questions about each stop before finishing/submitting the completed trip diary directly from the app.
App users are aware that while the app is installed on their smartphone or tablet, their GPS location is used to detect and record their stops and to help draw their vehicle’s approximate travel path, which in turn facilitates the stop review process. In addition to the GPS signal, the app also uses - with the User’s permission – their device’s accelerometer and gyroscope sensors. The data from these sensors are used by the app’s logic engine to confirm that a stop has indeed been made. ETC is committed to keeping each participant’s identifying information private. Our data privacy policy is available for review on our Company’s website and can be accessed directly via a link on this page.
Survey participants (18 and older) are asked to download the app, install it, and log in with a unique PIN. Prior to downloading the app, the participant provided contact information which allows ETC Institute staff to contact them with any questions or clarifications to update the app User’s trip diary during or after the collection period. After login, the app begins to automatically detect and record stops that the User makes during a prescribed period, usually 24 hours. The User is asked to review the stops and answer a few questions about each stop before finishing/submitting the completed trip diary directly from the app.
App users are aware that while the app is installed on their smartphone or tablet, their GPS location is used to detect and record their stops and to help draw their vehicle’s approximate travel path, which in turn facilitates the stop review process. In addition to the GPS signal, the app also uses - with the User’s permission – their device’s accelerometer and gyroscope sensors. The data from these sensors are used by the app’s logic engine to confirm that a stop has indeed been made. ETC is committed to keeping each participant’s identifying information private. Our data privacy policy is available for review on our Company’s website and can be accessed directly via a link on this page.
Expert Review & Analysis
The H-GAC University Travel Survey app, developed by ETC Institute, serves a highly specific purpose: data collection for transportation planning. It's not a travel app in the traditional sense, offering route planning or recommendations. Instead, its sole function is to passively track user movement and gather information about their travel patterns. This data is then used by transportation agencies to inform decisions about infrastructure and service improvements.
The app's key feature is its automated trip diary. Using GPS, accelerometer, and gyroscope data (with user permission), it detects and records stops made by the user over a defined period, typically 24 hours. This automated tracking minimizes user input, making the data collection process more efficient. The user then reviews these automatically detected stops, verifies their accuracy, and provides additional context through short questionnaires. This combination of automated tracking and user verification aims to balance accuracy with ease of participation. A strength is its focus on privacy; the app explicitly states data ownership and outlines privacy policies accessible both within the app and through a provided website link. However, a significant limitation is the app's restricted access; only invited participants can use it, limiting its broader applicability.
The app is useful only in the context of participating in a university travel survey. It's not designed for everyday travel planning or navigation. Its utility lies solely in providing researchers and transportation agencies with valuable data on travel behavior within a specific university community. This data can inform decisions regarding public transportation routes, infrastructure improvements, and the overall effectiveness of existing transportation systems.
The target audience is extremely limited. It's solely for individuals aged 18 and older who have been specifically invited to participate in a university travel survey conducted by ETC Institute. These individuals are typically pre-screened through in-person interviews, highlighting the highly specific and controlled nature of the app's user base. This targeted approach ensures the data collected is relevant and reliable but simultaneously restricts the app's overall reach and potential user base.
Overall, the H-GAC University Travel Survey app is a highly specialized tool serving a niche purpose. While it effectively fulfills its function of automated data collection for travel surveys, its extremely limited accessibility and lack of features beyond data recording prevent a broader appeal. The app is not designed for the general public and its value is entirely contingent upon its use within the specific research context for which it was created. The 0/5 rating on the Google Play Store likely reflects the app's inaccessibility to the general public, rather than any inherent flaws in its functionality for its intended purpose. A more appropriate rating system might involve internal assessments within the research team, rather than a public rating system.
The app's key feature is its automated trip diary. Using GPS, accelerometer, and gyroscope data (with user permission), it detects and records stops made by the user over a defined period, typically 24 hours. This automated tracking minimizes user input, making the data collection process more efficient. The user then reviews these automatically detected stops, verifies their accuracy, and provides additional context through short questionnaires. This combination of automated tracking and user verification aims to balance accuracy with ease of participation. A strength is its focus on privacy; the app explicitly states data ownership and outlines privacy policies accessible both within the app and through a provided website link. However, a significant limitation is the app's restricted access; only invited participants can use it, limiting its broader applicability.
The app is useful only in the context of participating in a university travel survey. It's not designed for everyday travel planning or navigation. Its utility lies solely in providing researchers and transportation agencies with valuable data on travel behavior within a specific university community. This data can inform decisions regarding public transportation routes, infrastructure improvements, and the overall effectiveness of existing transportation systems.
The target audience is extremely limited. It's solely for individuals aged 18 and older who have been specifically invited to participate in a university travel survey conducted by ETC Institute. These individuals are typically pre-screened through in-person interviews, highlighting the highly specific and controlled nature of the app's user base. This targeted approach ensures the data collected is relevant and reliable but simultaneously restricts the app's overall reach and potential user base.
Overall, the H-GAC University Travel Survey app is a highly specialized tool serving a niche purpose. While it effectively fulfills its function of automated data collection for travel surveys, its extremely limited accessibility and lack of features beyond data recording prevent a broader appeal. The app is not designed for the general public and its value is entirely contingent upon its use within the specific research context for which it was created. The 0/5 rating on the Google Play Store likely reflects the app's inaccessibility to the general public, rather than any inherent flaws in its functionality for its intended purpose. A more appropriate rating system might involve internal assessments within the research team, rather than a public rating system.
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