Analyzing Spatial-Temporal Patterns of Passengers during Large-Scale Events from the Perspective of the Symmetric Round Trip: A Case Study of the Fourth China International Import Expo in Shanghai

Major city exhibitions significantly impact urban public transport, presenting challenges that are often overlooked in current research. This is especially evident in terms of passengers’ symmetric round trips and the influence of participant types on spatial-temporal features during large events. This study addresses these gaps by categorizing passengers into bilateral commuters and unilateral travelers, analyzing urban rail systems’ spatial-temporal characteristics through data-driven methods and diverse visualization techniques. Focusing on the fourth China International Import Expo (CIIE), we discovered variations in travel duration, time preferences, commuting habits, and station symmetry among different participant types, linked to their trip purposes. These insights are vital for decision-making and flow management in large events, enhancing urban transport management and event sustainability.