Toward a Comprehensive Telecommuting Analysis Framework

The interest in telecommuting has been continuous and growing because of its promising potential for reducing travel and improving air quality. Several research efforts have been accomplished in telecommuting estimation and impact analysis of reductions in vehicle miles traveled as a result of telecommuting. Although there is an extensive body of literature, most previous studies concentrated on the estimation of telecommuting in terms of choice (whether to telecommute) and frequency (how often on a weekly or monthly basis). These studies failed to recognize that there were various forms of daily telecommuting that would have had different impacts on daily activity patterns. This study aims to provide a comprehensive framework for telecommuting behavior and impact analysis. There are several important features of the framework that are intended to fill the knowledge gaps in the field. First, the study provides an algorithm to identify major forms of telecommuting activities (e.g., full time, part time). Second, the study incorporates choice and frequency as lifestyle choice and extends the effort to a daily framework. These study features enable the estimation of the interactions between telecommuting engagement and other daily activities and facilitate an impact analysis on vehicle miles traveled, congestion reduction, and so forth. Third, the study proposes appropriate modeling structures capable of dealing with various engagement forms and the interactions with other activities. This study represents a major enhancement in telecommuting analysis in quantifying the effects of telecommuting on traffic outcomes.