Incorporating User Needs and Preferences into the Assessment of Transit-Oriented Development of Urban Areas

Cities face increasing challenges in designing sustainable and accessible transport networks.
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) promotes compact, mixed-use communities centered
around high-quality public transportation. However, traditional TOD evaluations often neglect
diverse user needs and preferences. This research investigates how sociodemographic-based
user segmentation can enhance the accuracy of TOD assessments.
Using decision tree analysis on the Dutch ODiN dataset, the study segments the population
into distinct user groups based on mode choice and demographic characteristics. A Multi
Criteria Analysis (MCA) framework, integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS),
assigns user-specific weights to TOD indicators. The methodology is applied to case studies in
Eindhoven to compare traditional TOD assessments with user-weighted assessments.
Results demonstrate that incorporating user preferences alters TOD rankings, highlighting the
importance of diverse mobility needs and preferences in urban planning. The study concludes
that integrating user segmentation into TOD frameworks enhances their inclusivity and
effectiveness, offering insights for policymakers and urban developers.