Information and communication technologies (ICT) has been revolutionized with the arrival of smart devices and applications. Whether it is taking a video call, working from home, ordering food or arranging transportation, a smart device like our smart phones and computers, along with smart applications like Uber and Swiggy has made many of our daily chores much more efficient and simple.
But can these advancements in ICT technologies transform our activities and travel plans enough, to cause less damage to the environment and save us more time. A new research from the National Institute of Technology, Calicut looking at the change in telework or remote working capabilities seems to suggest it will. Telework or Remote work is the ability to carry out ones work from a remote location, without going to an office. This means an employee can carry out the work from anywhere, whether they are staying home, travelling or on a vacation.
For the study, researchers collected telework data from workers in the Information Technology capital of India, Bengaluru. Using mathematical techniques like factor analysis and structural equation modelling and using an urban transport model, the researchers then analyzed the effects of ICT technologies on the activity and travel patterns, the network wide impact of telework in urban areas and environmental parameters. The analysis revealed a reduction in the distance covered in a vehicle or vehicle kilometer travelled(VKT) by 1.9%, and the time spent in a vehicle or vehicle hours travelled (VHT) by 3.6%. It further showed a reduction of the same parameters by 3.2% and 6.1% respectively, in the next five years. The study also revealed that transport network delay also reduced by 6%, while it is projected to be reduced by 9% in the next 5 years. This means spending less time stuck in traffic jams. Apart from the saving time and reducing transport woes, the study also revealed and reduction in peak hour emissions, due to a reduced number of vehicles on the road. The study highlights some of the unintended benefits of ICT technologies, allowing us to travel less and work more.