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The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Open Platform for Agile Trip Heuristics (NREL OpenPATH, accessible at https://nrel.gov/openpath) is a revolutionary tool that allows users to monitor their travel modes, including car, bus, bike, and walking, and assess the energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with these activities.
This innovative app not only helps individuals understand the environmental impact of their travel choices but also empowers communities to analyze travel patterns and experiment with sustainable options. By providing valuable data, NREL OpenPATH contributes to the development of effective transportation policies and the creation of more sustainable and accessible urban environments.
One of the key features of NREL OpenPATH is its ability to offer both individual insights and aggregated community data. Users receive personalized feedback on their travel choices, while a public dashboard displays community-level statistics on mode shares, trip frequencies, and carbon footprints.
The app's functionality is supported by continuous data collection and analysis through a smartphone app, backed by a server and automated data processing. Its open-source framework ensures transparent data handling and allows customization for specific studies or programs.
Upon first installation, the app does not collect or transmit any data. Data collection and storage begin only after you consent by clicking a link or scanning a QR code to participate in a study or program. If you're not part of a partner community but wish to track your personal carbon footprint, you can join NREL's open-access study. Your data may then be used as a control for experiments conducted by our partners.
NREL OpenPATH functions as an automatically generated travel diary, using background-sensed location and accelerometer data. Users have the option to add semantic labels to their diary entries, as requested by program administrators or researchers.
To minimize battery drain, the app automatically deactivates GPS when you are stationary. This feature helps reduce the impact on your device's battery life, resulting in approximately a 5% battery drain for up to 3 hours of daily travel.
Last updated on Oct 15, 2024
Latest Version1.9.1 |
Category |
Requires AndroidAndroid 7.0+ |
Available on |
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