Using Time-dependent Attractiveness to Evaluate Dynamic Place-based Accessibility

This study proposes a place-based space-time accessibility measure to capture temporal variation of place-based accessibility at different times of the day. Using the space-time utility perspective, accessibility of a location is conceptualized as space-time utility offered by a set of facilities accessible from the location. A time-dependent facility attractiveness function is introduced to represent temporal variation of individuals' needs for performing activities at a certain facility. The introduced function is formulated by two components: a time-unvarying component of individuals' satisfaction derived from activity participations at the facility, and a time-varying component of individuals' intensity for performing a certain type of activities at different times of the day. To demonstrate the applicability of proposed measures, a comprehensive case study is carried out in Wuhan, China.