A five-component conceptual model of calculated and perceived accessibility

Abstract

This paper presents an accessibility literature review and updates the accessibility definition and conceptual model of Geurs and van Wee (2004). The paper presents a five-component conceptual model for both calculated and perceived accessibility, which suggests that accessibility depends on the transport system, land use system, digital infrastructure and technologies, characteristics of people and their social interactions, and the temporal component, as well as numerous mutual interrelationships. The paper reviewed operationalisations of calculated and perceived accessibility, which measure accessibility in different ways and show different perspectives on accessibility. The addition of the digital component of accessibility is the first main extension of our conceptualisation of calculated and perceived accessibility. The literature review, however, shows that the direct and indirect impacts of digitalisation on calculated and perceived accessibility are understudied. Existing studies primarily focus on the impacts of teleworking and telehealth on calculated accessibility. The second main extension to the 2004 conceptual model is the addition of social interactions to the individual component of accessibility. The review shows that existing calculated and perceived accessibility studies, however, typically ignore social interactions within households and local communities, which can help to overcome accessibility barriers and influence perceptions of accessibility. The paper identifies several directions for future research, including the direct and indirect impacts of digitalization on calculated and perceived accessibility, as well as the further development of perceived accessibility and equity measures.