The use of mobile phone location data for traffic information

The Department for Transport (DfT) in the UK is evaluating the process of obtaining traffic statistics such as those collected in the National Travel Survey and the traffic census. Alongside traditional methods, such as surveys and loop data, mobile phone data can be used to support and complete the existing methods. As well as considering the potential of ITS to compile traffic statistics, the DfT is also interested in its applicability to the measurement of road freight (HGV and LGV) activity, particularly origins and destinations data. In 1998, TRL was commissioned by the Highways Agency to conduct research into the feasibility of using mobile phone location data to obtain traffic information, in particular origin-destination (OD) information which would provide the core data required by many transportation simulation models including SATURN and SISTM. The results of the research are described in several documents, including White and Quick (2000) and White and Wells (2002). The research found that it was feasible to obtain OD information from mobile phone location data, as well as other forms of traffic information such as journey times and speeds. Routeing information was also extractable. TRL developed an algorithm to analyse anonymous billing data, kindly provided by BTCellnet, now O₂. The paper provides an update on the previous work and focuses on the use of mobile phone data for the Department for Transport´s requirements.