Using App Usage Data from Mobile Devices to Improve Activity-Based Travel Demand Models

Abstract

In the last years we have seen several studies showing the potential of mobile network data to reconstruct activity and mobility patterns of the population. These data sources allow continuous monitoring of the population with a higher degree of spatial and temporal resolution and at a lower cost compared with traditional methods. However, for certain applications, the spatial resolution of these data sources is still not enough since it typically provides a spatial resolution of hundreds of meters in urban areas and of few kilometers in rural areas. In this article, we fill this gap by proposing a methodology that utilises GPS data from the usage of different applications in mobile devices. This approach improves the spatial precision in the location of activities, previously identified with the mobile network data.