Fundamental Research on X (formerly Twitter) Attitude Survey on Utsunomiya LRT Project

Abstract

With the widespread adoption of smartphones, people can now share and disseminate information in real time through Social Networking Services (SNS), transcending spatial constraints. Public awareness of infrastructure projects is often assessed through questionnaire surveys, which provide only discrete data points due to the time-consuming nature of survey design and data collection. To address this limitation, this study explores the potential of leveraging SNS data, specifically from X (formerly Twitter), to complement traditional surveys in evaluating public perceptions of infrastructure projects. Using the Haga Utsunomiya Light Rail Transit (Utsunomiya LRT) project as a case study, we quantitatively analyze shifts in public sentiment and identify trending topics. This approach offers a continuous and dynamic perspective on public opinion, supplementing the discrete nature of conventional survey methods.