Explorative research on project-activity classification system
Human activity classification is a fundamental aspect of spatiotemporal behavior research.Traditionally,human activities are usually classified based on their constraint characteristics.However,the rapid evolution of society and technologies,such as information and communication technologies(ICTs),has introduced new complexities that challenge the adequacy of these classic classification methods.To address these limitations,the time-geographic concept of project offers a promising alternative.A project,in this context,is defined as a series of space/time-uses designated to achieve a specific goal.This concept allows for a more nuanced classification of activities based on the internal linkages between activities constructed by individual or organizational intentions.By framing activities within the context of projects,researchers can better understand the interconnectedness and goals-oriented nature of human behavior.Despite the potential of the project concept,existing research that integrates projects into activity classification still faces several challenges.These include the ambiguity of criteria used to define projects,a lack of consideration for the evolving ICTs,and a narrow focus on empirical studies mainly from Western developed countries.These limitations hinder the development of a more comprehensive and globally relevant framework for classifying human activities from the perspective of project.This study aims to advance the theory and methodology of human activity classification by introducing the concept of a"project-activity classification system"(PACS).The PACS incorporates five hierarchical levels:"demand-project-activity-behavior-episode,"which not only clarifies the role of projects within the urban activity system but also links the entire process from the initial demand for an activity to its eventual outcome.In addition,it goes beyond merely simplifying activity categories;it also preserves the semantic richness and contextual depth of detailed activities.The paper furtherly presents an exploratory construction of the PACS based on 2021 Beijing residents'daily activity survey data.The PACS preliminarily constructed in this paper based on first-hand survey,on the one hand,reflects the influence of the recent development of information and communications technologies on daily activities,on the other hand,demonstrates the types of urban activities with Chinese characteristics and shows possibilities for innovation in theory,methodology and empirical application of human activity classification.
time geographyclassification of human activityprojectproject-activity systeminformation and communications technologies