Stress Mapping

Stress mapping is part of an ongoing research project that aims to develop and extend 'frontier' methods to gauge and promote the well-being of those living in Ireland. In its current form, our stress mapping technique essentially involves simultaneously assessing the geographic position and physiological reactivity of commuters. This allows us to pinpoint stress 'hotpoints' and test to see if commuting stress is greater depending on the mode of transport used. For instance, as illustrated in the picture below, for some drivers (in red) places like the Red Cow Roundabout peak their stress levels, though this may not be the case for those who take the luas (in green). This represents a new kind of evaluation tool that acts as an objective marker of momentary well-being.

Our techniques also allow us to address questions where there is a current dearth of knowledge in the scientific literature: How does commuting rank in terms of stress compared to the other activities of our day? Is there a difference between how people feel about commuting and what our biological measures tell us about their stress levels? How does this differ based on the mode of transport people use? How does being stuck in traffic vs. moving along swiftly impact on cardiovascular activity as assessed in real-time? What techniques do people use to reduce commuting stress (e.g. listening to the radio, car pooling) and how effective are they?