A Data-Driven Approach to Analyze Mobility Patterns and the Built Environment: Evidence from Brescia, Catania, and Salerno (Italy)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This paper analyzes the correlation between mobility patterns and the built environment to promote the integrated approach to transportation and land-use planning. This paper confirms how the structure of each city and the related road network can impact the potential accessibility and, as a consequence, the mobility patterns.

In general, the topic in this paper is interesting and fits well within the scope of this journal. However, the whole article is not well organized, and the importance and contribution of the paper are not well presented and delivered through abstract, model development, and case study. In addition, some discussions in this paper are wordy and not clear even after reading them several times, which distracts the reader from appreciating this important topic and the substance of the findings. Thus, the reviewer recommends a major revision before being published in this journal. The following comments and feedback could hopefully assist the authors in future revisions.

Specific Comments:

1.         Introduction: This part is not presented clearly, which distracts the reader from appreciating this important topic. The introduction of this paper is written in a rather fragmented manner, listing only some references with poor logic and untranslatability. The abrupt description of accessibility is not related to context, which not consistent with the computing method are used in the later paper. Moreover, the reviewer wonders, what is the purpose of using the same framework that cooperates with Land Use – Transportation Interaction in this study?

2.         Methods：

a.         Page 3. Paragraph 3 describes every zone as hexagonal, the design methods as well as some critical selection criteria seem to be primitive and lack rigorous justification;

b.         Page 3. Paragraph 6, “FCD derive from probe vehicles tracked by an On-Board Unit every 30-60 seconds” What is the type of vehicle tracked in the FCD data? Whether to include public transport vehicles?

c.         In Table 1, the distribution of travel times is written twice. In addition, there is a problem with the distribution of average travel times during the day unit;

d.         Please claim the meaning of “s” in the unit of active/passive potential accessibility in Table 1.

3.         Result: This part is not presented clearly. Here below list several technical concerns that the authors need to further clarify:

a.         In Paragraph 4 and 5, Section 3.1, The authors only present the distribution of travel times and mean speed distribution by using proposed methods and floating car data. However, from the reviewer’s point of view, these two explanations are somewhat superficial and need to be further analyzed;

b.         In Paragraph 2, Section 3.2, the authors claim that “the port of Salerno is more remotely located with respect to the downtown than Catania”. Please clarify what relationship between the result of GINI index and this conclusion;

c.         Section 3.3 lists the results of the potential accessibility that will be used for integrating mobility patterns and the built environment. However, the authors do not explain the reasons for these results, and from the reviewer’s point of view, the explanation for some of these metrics is superficial;

d.         Please state the significance of selecting these three cities, and whether they are typically representative?

4.         Discussion:

a.         In Figure 8, the relationship of these GINI indexes can only be roughly seen, please mark the specific values to facilitate access to information;

b.         In Section V Paragraph 1, the authors claim that "Thus, the layout of the city, also dependent by its geographical location, must be considered in the integrated planning of transportation systems and land-use". Please specify the significance of the integrated approach to transportation and land-use planning in guiding future urban planning.

5.         Conclusion: No convincing contributions could be found in this part. Most of the contributions this paper mentioned are kind of thumb-of-rule.

6.         Editorial errors:

a.         Page 10. Paragraph 5 and paragraph 6 end with an unexpected branch;

b.         In Eq. 1, Section 4, there is no description for x_k in the interpretation for L_i;

c.         The presentation of the contents shall be improved in a more readable and concise way.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear Author(s), I would like to thank you for the opportunity to read your manuscript entitled “A Data-Driven Approach to analyze Mobility Patterns and the Built Environment: Evidences from Brescia, Catania and Salerno (Italy)”.

The overall manuscript is well presented with minor spelling or grammar mistakes.

The overall work is very interesting, as the problems related to mobility patterns and the built environment in urban management are very essential.  

Here are some issues concerning your paper:

1.      The overall purpose of the article should be stated clearly in the Introduction and also underlined in the Abstract.

2.      The Abstract should contain the main methods briefly described or treatments applied as well as main results of the article

3.      The literature review part presented is too short. From my point of view, it does not present what has already been achieved in the field of accessibility of mobility and influence of built environment on mobility patterns. What are the main methods for the analysis of mobility patterns of road vehicles  and how do they differ? What is even more important, the gap knowledge should be explained here.

4.      The Methods part is logical and very well explained.

5.      All maps in Figures and Tables are well presented and readable with appropriate citations in the main text.

6.      In the discussion on the obtained research results, there is no information on the current new results and an attitude to the existing research, which could emphasize the importance of the work done.

7.      Future research directions and the significance of the results of the research achieved are underlined and explained in conclusion part. It should also be extended.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The reviewer does not have further concerns.