The Victorian Activity and Travel Survey (VATS) experience over the years 1994 to 2002 is discussed. The paper raises the question of how much data is necessary to provide information on changes occurring in out-of-home urban activity patterns. Does VATS significantly under report the activity of walking? VATS records the activity and travel behaviour for members of approximately 45,000 households within the Melbourne Statistical Division (MSD). As VATS data is collected on each day of the year, comparisons are possible between VATS and the ABS Household Census activity patterns on Tuesday, 6 August 1996 and Tuesday, 7 August 2001. The paper indicates approximations bounding VATS data. The preparation of input tables from VATS for the Melbourne Integrated Transport Model (MITM) is described. In addition issues relating to short trip generation and definition of activity zones are discussed. Is VATS a suitable input for deriving local occupancy and exposure rates? The paper makes reference to VATS resource constraints. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E211903.
Samenvatting