CATEGORY ANALYSIS OR CROSS–CLASSIFICATION

The method is based on estimating the response (e.g. the number of trip productions per household for
a given purpose) as a function of household attributes. The average response or average value of the
dependent variable is determined for certain defined categories of the independent variables. A multi-
dimensional matrix defines the categories, each dimension in the matrix representing one independent
variable. The independent variables themselves are classified into a definite number of discrete class
intervals.
Assumptions
1) The household is the fundamental unit in the tri generation process, and most journeys begin or
end in response to the requirements of the family.
2) The trip generated by the household depend upon the characteristics of that household and its
location relative to its required facilities such as shops, school and work place. Household with
one set of characteristics generate different rates of trips from households with other set of
characteristics.
3) Three prime factors affecting the amount of travel a household produces: car-ownership, income
and household structure. Within each of the three factors, limited number of ranges are
established to describe the trip generating capacity of a household by a limited number of
categories.
4) Trip generation rates are relatively stable over a time so long as factors external to the household
are the same as when the trips were first measured.
The cross-classification model is based on the assumption that the number of trips generated by similar
households or households belonging to the sample category is the same.
Categorization of Households
Households categorization based on three factors
Car ownership – 3 classes Income – 6 classes Household structure- 6 classes
 0 car  < 5000 p.a.  No employed residents and one non-
 1 car  5000-10,000 p.a. employed adult
 > 1 car  10,000-15,000 p.a.  No employed residents and 2 or more
 15,000-20,000 p.a. non-employed adult
 20,000-25,000 p.a.  One employed resident and one or less
 >25,000 p.a. non-employed adult
 One employed resident and two or
more non-employed adult
 Two or more employed residents and
one or less non-employed adult
 Two or more employed residents and
two or more non-employed adult
The above system of categorization will give 108 (3x6x6) categories. It is also possible to consider different
modes of travel and trip purposes to get more combinations.
As an example of this model let x be a zone. There are Pxy households in category y and if Qk is the average
rate of trip generation per household in category y then the relation for the trip generated by zone x, Tx
is given by
𝑇𝑥 = 𝑃𝑦𝑥 × 𝑄𝑘

Example: Cross Classification of households by size and ownership

To illustrate cross classification let us consider two variable groups that affect residential trip generation:
family size and auto ownership. For each zone of metropolitan area, data are recorded according to the
number of households, as well as the number of trips made by those households, for cross classification
of family size and automobile ownership (Table 5.2). From these data a matrix is constructed with the
average trip rates for different types of households recorded in the individual cell (Table 5.3). To predict
trip-generation rates for each zone, the number of households in each cell of matrix is estimated for the
target or forecast year (Table 5.4). The rates of trip making for a given cross-classified category are
multiplied by the number of households in that category. For example in Table 5.5, it is estimated that in
the forecast year there will be 79 households with three members who own one automobile, the cross-
classification model predicts the households in this zone will make 559 trips in the forecast year, based
on the present trip generation rate 7.08 trips per household.
Critical appraisal of the category analysis technique
Advantages:
i. Cross-classification groupings are independent of the zone system of the study area.
ii. The whole concept of the household trip making is simplified in this technique. It categorizes
the household according to certain socio-economic characteristics and this appears rational.
iii. Unlike regression analysis technique, no mathematical relationship is derived between trip
making and house hold characteristics. This takes away many of the statistical drawbacks of
the regression analysis.
iv. Since data from the census can be used directly, it saves considerable amount of effort, time
and money spent on home interview survey.
v. The computations are relatively simple.
vi. Since disaggregate data are used, the technique simulates human behavior more realistically
than the zonal aggregation process normally employed in regression analysis.
Disadvantages:
i. It is difficult to test the statistical significance of the various explanatory variables. There is no
statistical goodness-of-fit measure for the model, so only aggregate closeness to the
calibration data can be ascertained.
ii. The technique normally makes use of studies in the past made elsewhere, with broad
corrections.
iii. Large samples are needed to assign trip rates to any one category. otherwise cell values will
vary in reliability because of the differences in the number of households being available for
calibration at each one.
iv. The model does not permit extrapolation beyond its calibration strata, although the lowest
or highest class of a variable may be open ended.
v. New variables cannot be introduced at a future date.