Using semi-automated shadowing for analysing stress-inducedspatio-temporal behaviour patterns of passengers in public transport infrastructures

Abstract

In the course of the scientific project IANUS, we examined the impacts of stress on the physical and psychological condition of passengers in train stations in order to identify relevant determinants and to develop recommendations for reducing stress-inducing factors in public transport infrastructures. We used a combination of biometric measuring of heart rate, semi-automated observation of spatio-temporal behaviour, psychological interviews, eye-tracking and visual field analyses during laboratory and field tests. In this contribution, we focus on the methodology of observing the spatio-temporal behaviour patterns of 35 individuals participating in field tests conducted in Vienna, Austria. The observation datasets have been analysed concerning velocities, route choice, stopping behaviour and related activities in order to identify noticeable patterns and events that can indicate stress-related behaviour. The outcomes were subsequently consolidated with the results of the complementary methods in order to identify stress-inducing factors in transport infrastructures.