Sharing Real-Time Traffic Information With Travelers Using Twitter: An Analysis of Effectiveness and Information Content

Ubiquitous smartphone technologies and virtual social networks offer us a unique opportunity to instantly share information to a large number of people. Online social media platforms facilitate easy and rapid communication of real-time information by producing a huge amount of digital content. In th...

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Main Authors: Rezaur Rahman, Kamol C. Roy, Mohamed Abdel-Aty, Samiul Hasan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2019-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Built Environment
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbuil.2019.00083/full
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author Rezaur Rahman
Kamol C. Roy
Mohamed Abdel-Aty
Samiul Hasan
author_facet Rezaur Rahman
Kamol C. Roy
Mohamed Abdel-Aty
Samiul Hasan
author_sort Rezaur Rahman
collection DOAJ
description Ubiquitous smartphone technologies and virtual social networks offer us a unique opportunity to instantly share information to a large number of people. Online social media platforms facilitate easy and rapid communication of real-time information by producing a huge amount of digital content. In this paper, we present an analysis of the data collected from 14 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Twitter accounts created for sharing real-time traffic information. We analyze the activities, influence, attention received, and the effectiveness of gaining attention by these accounts. We propose several metrics in disseminating real-time traffic information. Using topic models, we also analyze the content of the shared information given in the tweets. Finally, we estimate an ordered logit model to determine the information value of a shared content based on its chance of getting retweeted. Based on the study, we propose a framework called Social Media-based Adaptive Real-time Traffic feed (SMART-Feed) that will significantly improve the effectiveness of real-time traffic information sharing through social media. Moreover, it will help to assess the value of real-time traffic information to travelers and developing social media strategies for sharing information.
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spelling doaj.art-6fc426495a5a44f7b117651c20f2dc8a2022-12-22T03:15:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Built Environment2297-33622019-06-01510.3389/fbuil.2019.00083446447Sharing Real-Time Traffic Information With Travelers Using Twitter: An Analysis of Effectiveness and Information ContentRezaur RahmanKamol C. RoyMohamed Abdel-AtySamiul HasanUbiquitous smartphone technologies and virtual social networks offer us a unique opportunity to instantly share information to a large number of people. Online social media platforms facilitate easy and rapid communication of real-time information by producing a huge amount of digital content. In this paper, we present an analysis of the data collected from 14 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Twitter accounts created for sharing real-time traffic information. We analyze the activities, influence, attention received, and the effectiveness of gaining attention by these accounts. We propose several metrics in disseminating real-time traffic information. Using topic models, we also analyze the content of the shared information given in the tweets. Finally, we estimate an ordered logit model to determine the information value of a shared content based on its chance of getting retweeted. Based on the study, we propose a framework called Social Media-based Adaptive Real-time Traffic feed (SMART-Feed) that will significantly improve the effectiveness of real-time traffic information sharing through social media. Moreover, it will help to assess the value of real-time traffic information to travelers and developing social media strategies for sharing information.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbuil.2019.00083/fullreal-time traffic informationsocial mediatwittertopic modelinformation valueretweeted
spellingShingle Rezaur Rahman
Kamol C. Roy
Mohamed Abdel-Aty
Samiul Hasan
Sharing Real-Time Traffic Information With Travelers Using Twitter: An Analysis of Effectiveness and Information Content
Frontiers in Built Environment
real-time traffic information
social media
twitter
topic model
information value
retweeted
title Sharing Real-Time Traffic Information With Travelers Using Twitter: An Analysis of Effectiveness and Information Content
title_full Sharing Real-Time Traffic Information With Travelers Using Twitter: An Analysis of Effectiveness and Information Content
title_fullStr Sharing Real-Time Traffic Information With Travelers Using Twitter: An Analysis of Effectiveness and Information Content
title_full_unstemmed Sharing Real-Time Traffic Information With Travelers Using Twitter: An Analysis of Effectiveness and Information Content
title_short Sharing Real-Time Traffic Information With Travelers Using Twitter: An Analysis of Effectiveness and Information Content
title_sort sharing real time traffic information with travelers using twitter an analysis of effectiveness and information content
topic real-time traffic information
social media
twitter
topic model
information value
retweeted
url https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbuil.2019.00083/full
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AT kamolcroy sharingrealtimetrafficinformationwithtravelersusingtwitterananalysisofeffectivenessandinformationcontent
AT mohamedabdelaty sharingrealtimetrafficinformationwithtravelersusingtwitterananalysisofeffectivenessandinformationcontent
AT samiulhasan sharingrealtimetrafficinformationwithtravelersusingtwitterananalysisofeffectivenessandinformationcontent