Compatible Carpoolers Could Reduce Gridlock, Air Pollution

Image credit: sakyphoto / CC BY-SA 3.0One successful way to fight both gridlock and air pollution is by simply matching potential carpoolers with other like-minded carpoolers, according to research from the University of Waterloo.

Published in Transportation Research Part C, Bissan Ghaddar, professor of management engineering at Waterloo and author of the study, believes that car use can be reduced by almost 60 percent if carpoolers actually liked the people they were riding with.

"Usually carpooling is about just matching people depending on geographical location and time of schedule," said Professor Ghaddar. "We wanted to include the social aspect into the equation, because it's always awkward when there is silence in the car, especially if it's a long commute."

"We believed that we really needed to look at the social aspect, and our initial data analysis agreed with us," Ghaddar added.

Using social media analytics, computer simulation and algorithms, Ghaddar matched potential carpoolers with people driving to work. The study examined the Twitter feeds of potential carpoolers to determine their interests and also observed their interactions with others on social media to discern who made up their social circles. The information was fed into a computer algorithm in addition to information about locations, time preferences and personality.

The study then examined simulated matchmaking scenarios using real-world data from Rome and San Francisco, finding that compatible carpoolers resulted in a 57 percent reduction in car use in Rome and a 40 percent reduction in San Francisco.

"This could be a system that could put a dent in gridlock, reduce pollution and make commuting to work more enjoyable," said Ghaddar. "As a carpooler myself, I can't overestimate the importance of compatibility."