WalkingStreet: understanding human mobility phenomena through a mobile application

Abstract

Understanding human mobility patterns requires access to timely and reliable data for an adequate policy response. This data can come from several sources, such as mobile devices. Additionally, the wide availability of communications networks enables applications (mobile apps) to generate data anytime and anywhere thanks to their general adoption by individuals. Although data is generated from personal devices, if a relevant set of metrics is applied to it, it can become useful for the authorities and the community as a whole. This paper explores new methods for gathering and analyzing location-based data using a mobile application called WalkingStreet. The article also illustrates the great potential of human mobility metrics for moving spatial measures beyond census units, key measures of individual, collective mobility and a mix of the two, investigating a range of important social phenomena, the heterogeneity of activity spaces and the dynamic nature of spatial segregation.