Identifying Types of Telecommuters based on Daily Travel and Activity Patterns

Research Team: Michael McNally (lead) and Rezwana Rafiq

UC Campus(es): UC Irvine

Problem Statement: Telecommuting, also known as “working from home,” is increasingly becoming a preferred working arrangement due to the broad adoption of telecommunications and information technologies. With the current worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 and its subsequent travel restrictions, telecommuting has seen significant growth; however, current knowledge of different types of telecommuters and their complex travel behavior as well as daily activity-travel patterns is still very limited.

Project Description: This research provides a better understanding of the different types of telecommuters, the degree of telecommuting adoption, how telecommuters schedule their daily travel activities to different work and non-work activities, and their preferred travel modes. A telecommuter typology will be developed based on similar degrees of telecommuting and travel activity patterns, and regional variations in telecommuting practices in California and the rest of the country. The results identify workers by socio-economic characteristics and residential location who are more likely to remain telecommuters or to accept offers to telecommute and those for whom telecommuting presents the most challenges and might not use telecommuting or would do so irregularly. Finally, the study looks at the effect of telecommuting on individuals’ travel behavior, as well as on the overall transportation system.

Status: Completed

Budget: $51,372