eRBANITY investigates the social and spatiotemporal effects of urban accessibility in today's hyper-digitalized society. The increasing and unstoppable use of online activities (e.g., telecommuting, online shopping, internet-based entertainment) adds complexity to the spatiotemporal mobility patterns that determine individual accessibility. To date, scholars have discussed the impacts of online activity use on travel behavior, primarily from a mobility perspective. However, there is a research gap regarding how online activities impact accessibility, that is, the integrated system of land use and transportation. Specifically, there is limited knowledge concerning the following three aspects: (i) identifying spatiotemporal accessibility thresholds that establish when online activities become more competitive than physical ones while maintaining adequate levels of accessibility; (ii) studying the social impact that online activities may have on the reconfiguration of inequalities in terms of urban accessibility; (iii) evaluating the spatiotemporal effects of online activities on the (re)location of key urban activities, in line with new urban models aimed at being more sustainable and resilient.
To address these issues, an innovative approach is proposed, conceptualized within the framework of time geography. The city of Zaragoza (Spain), which is strongly committed to the expansion of the digital economy, will serve as a case study. Methodologically, the research will first involve a data collection process focused on the integration of activity diaries and a questionnaire that includes socioeconomic and demographic information. Second, spatiotemporal accessibility thresholds will be identified through an innovative combination of time geography and elasticity analysis. These thresholds will indicate the tipping points at which completing activities online becomes more competitive than performing them in person.
Third, the social implications of online activities will be studied by analyzing whether they can reduce inequalities in accessibility levels or, conversely, exacerbate them, and for whom. Finally, professionals and policymakers will reflect on the appropriateness and feasibility of optimization models to study the spatial effects of online activities on urban accessibility planning. The findings from eRBANITY will contribute to reflection and a deeper understanding of these issues, which lie at the intersection of geography, urban planning, and social inequalities.