Health-optimal routing in pedestrian navigation services

Abstract

People use various criteria for choosing routes, which may vary depending on location and time, purpose of trip, and personal preferences. Common routing criteria supported by current navigation services include shortest, fastest, least traffic, and least expensive (e.g., less fuel cost, toll free). While each optimal route is computed by using one of these criteria, there is currently no criterion that can be used to compute routes that are health-optimal. In this paper, we focus on a new routing criterion to compute health-optimal routes with the main objective of increasing physical activity. Those who are physically capable and motivated to walk can adapt a lifestyle that includes walking as a means to mitigate or prevent obesity. To that end, a routing criterion for computing health-optimal routes suitable for those who are concerned with obesity must take into account both environmental and individual factors. Computing optimal routes requires that each road segment of a road network be assigned a weight; like, distance for shortest routes and travel time for fastest routes. In this paper, we present and discuss a new weight for segments of pedestrian paths used in pedestrian navigation services to compute health-optimal routes. While health-optimal routes may address various health conditions, the objective of this work is to provide options for walking routes to increase regular physical activity as one means to help mitigate or prevent obesity. Weights are calculated by considering both environmental and individual parameters. The optimal-health weight is simulated using various scenarios. The results of the simulations show that the computed weights can be used to find health-optimal routes that are meaningful and consistent with walkability and obesity standards.