Joint modeling of atis, habit and learning impacts on route choice by laboratory simulator experiments

In this paper, we propose a conceptual modeling framework, as well as derive mathematical submodels for route choice on motorways and urban networks. The models convey the most relevant aspects that play a role in route choice, among other things learning, risk attitude under uncertainty, habit and the impacts of ATIS on route choice and learning. To get insight into the relative importance of the different aspects and processes constituting route choice behavior and as such support the proposed conceptual framework, the models have been estimated using data from two experiments that have been carried out using a so-called interactive travel simulator. The latter is a new research laboratory that combines the advantages of both SP and RP research. Many relevant contributions on the aforementioned aspects that play a role in route choice can be found in literature, but a simultaneous consideration of all is lacking. Based on these contributions from literature, a conceptual framework is developed that integrates these aspects. The results from the laboratory experiments show that people perform best under the most elaborate information scenario and that habit and inertia together with en-route information play a major role in the route choice. Learning about the route attributes is especially important during the first days, but hereafter plays a smaller role than the provided information and the developed habit. Finally, the way the information is presented in the experiments proves to have a large impact on the route choice.