Comparing Google Maps and Uber Movement Travel Time Data

Abstract

The emergence and availability of crowd sourced data provide transport researchers with comprehensive coverage in their research subjects. However, difficulties in data validation and consistency between different sources pose a threat to the credibility of research based on such data. In this paper, travel time data for Sydney, Australia from Google Maps and from Uber Movement are compared for their consistency. Although the results show the two data sources are similar in measuring travel time, travel times from Uber Movement are systematically lower than from Google. This study recommends due caution in the selection of data source, and in comparing research results using different data sources.