Investigating impacts of extreme weather episodes on travel behavior using microsimulation model-based activity-travel schedules

Climate change is a well-documented and known phenomenon that is producing multidimensional repercussions around the world. One of them is the increase in the frequency of extreme weather events, which can seriously impact routine activities, endangering the sustainability and safety of society. This study aims to investigate one of the impacts of these events on travel behavior. To achieve this goal, the output of an activity-based microsimulation model has been utilized for the Flanders region in Belgium. The information extracted from the model was combined with findings obtained from weather-related travel behavior studies. Six extreme weather scenarios and their effects on travel behavior (especially mode choice) are defined. Based on that, the activity-travel schedules of the individuals are revised and readjusted in terms of time and trip distances, and aggregate statistics are calculated for comparison with the base case. The analysis also included the determination of CO 2 emissions in different scenarios. Results indicate that extreme weather episodes (analyzed in this study) can cause an increase in CO2 emissions by 2 to 6% and, therefore, create a vicious cycle. This study also listed some enhancements in traditional bicycle infrastructure improvement strategies to make them more climate-resilient.