Data and Methods

A mixed-methodological approach is used to address the complex nature of this project and its objectives as follows:

• Desk study of current travel patterns, investigating in what ways the existing social and business practices associated with everyday trip purposes (e.g. work, retail, leisure) are dependent on non-transport technologies.

• Desk-study of various developing or anticipated non-transport technologies in different sectors, such as retailing, health and finance (e.g. by reviewing Foresight Panel reports), examining the implications for mobility of a selected range of technologies.

• In-depth interviews with experts within science and technology studies to identify likely transport-relevant developing and future technologies; these include at least one ‘work-dependent’ non-transport technology.

• A qualitative study to examine the deconstruction of present-day activity patterns and social practices, in order to identify the impacts of non-transport technologies. Three (emergent) technology clusters are considered in detail in relation to their (evolving) impact upon social configurations and the patterning of travel. This involves desk research, interviews, analysis of trade materials, comparative data and trends. One of these clusters considers a set of work-related technologies explored by the PhD student.

• Workshops where the experts above are brought together in order to assess and evaluate which new technologies may begin to cluster, particularly across sectors, and how such clusters can bring about changes in long term social and mobility patterns.

• A scenario planning exercise to consider the range of possible outcomes associated with selected future (and enduring present-day) technology clusters (drawing upon and developing Foresight scenarios: 2006).

• A final ‘working’ conference at which participants analyse technology clusters and their implications for travel and identify those that could reduce the carbon costs of social life that is conducted at-a-distance.

Planned Outputs

A set of future scenarios of technology clusters and travel, complementary to those of the Foresight exercises, but brought together and in more detail concerning travel demand and non-transport technologies.