NREL OpenPATH

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Open Platform for Agile Trip Heuristics (NREL OpenPATH, available at https://nrel.gov/openpath) is a revolutionary tool designed to help individuals and communities track their travel modes, such as cars, buses, bikes, and walking, and assess the associated energy consumption and carbon emissions.

NREL OpenPATH empowers users to gain a deeper understanding of their travel choices and patterns. By experimenting with different modes of transportation, users can make more sustainable decisions and evaluate the environmental impact of their choices. This data-driven approach can significantly influence transportation policy and planning, paving the way for more sustainable and accessible urban environments.

The app not only provides personalized insights into the environmental impact of individual travel decisions but also aggregates community-level data. This includes mode shares, trip frequencies, and carbon footprints, which are accessible via a public dashboard. This feature allows for a broader understanding of community behavior and supports the development of targeted sustainability initiatives.

NREL OpenPATH leverages continuous data collection and analysis through a smartphone app, supported by a server and automated data processing. Its open-source framework ensures transparency in data collection and analysis, while also offering flexibility to be customized for specific programs or studies.

Upon first installation, the app does not collect or transmit any data. To start using the app, users must join a study or program by clicking a link or scanning a QR code, and then provide consent for data collection and storage. For those not affiliated with a partner community or program but interested in assessing their personal carbon footprint, there is an option to join the NREL-run open-access study. Data from these users may contribute to the control group for experiments conducted by our partners.

At its core, NREL OpenPATH functions as an automatically generated travel diary, utilizing background-sensed location and accelerometer data. Users can enhance this diary with semantic labels as specified by program administrators or researchers.

It's important to note that continuous GPS usage in the background can significantly reduce battery life. To mitigate this, the app automatically deactivates GPS when the user is stationary, which helps to minimize battery drain to approximately 5% for up to 3 hours of daily travel.

What's New in the Latest Version 1.9.1

Last updated on Oct 15, 2024

• Made push notifications optional, catering to programs that do not require them.