Guide to mobility data

What is mobility data?

Mobility data refers to all data that record, describe or analyze the mobility of people, but also of goods, thus enabling it to be comprehended or planned.

How is mobility data collected?

In general, there are three main approaches to mobility data collection:

• The model-based approach calculates models for mobility flows from various parameters and is usually used for planning and simulation purposes.
• Collection via GPS data draws on movements that can be traced via the communication of an object with the GPS satellite system. This is therefore actual data that can be equally used for analyzing traffic flows as well as for projecting future movements.
• Mobility data obtained from GSM or cellular data correspond to data obtained via GPS. It is available on a much larger scale due to the widespread global use of mobile communications. On the other hand, the spatial precision of GSM data is far below that of GPS sources.

What sources are there for mobility data?

Mobility data is available through open source platforms such as Google Maps and is free in some cases. (Is that true? On OSM I have not seen any mobility data in the narrower sense until now, and in many cases Google Maps is not free either).

If mobility data is to be used for business purposes, it is advisable to use data which has been paid for in order to avoid licensing and usage restrictions. In addition, other corporate data can usually only be combined with mobility data which has been paid for, which is why obtaining it from professional providers is recommended. In addition to a growing number of smaller providers, PTV Logistics GmbH is a suitable point of contact here, supplying not only pure data, but also decades of expertise on its uses and applications.

What are the differences between the various data sources?

Depending on the specialization of the respective provider, mobility data differ primarily in their spatial and temporal resolution, but also in their update rhythms, their demands on the analysis software used and, of course, their acquisition costs.

Is mobility data expensive?

Mobility data is already available at reasonable prices, depending on what it is needed for. There are usually very attractive pricing models, especially when restricting use to regional sections.

Is mobility data also available free of charge from Google Maps?

Google Maps is a commercial product by Google and is usually not free of charge for business applications.

What licensing models are available?

Licensing models for mobility data are generally user-based. For special use cases, however, there are also asset-based or transaction-based models.

What software is needed to process mobility data?

In principle, either geographical information systems such as MapInfo or also geomarketing applications can be used to process mobility data.

What data protection issues need to be considered when using mobility data?

The use of mobility data is subject to the same legal provisions as all other data, for example the GDPR. The mobility data distributed by PTV Logistics GmbH is not related to personal information and therefore does not generally entail any increased data protection requirements.

What is the spatial reference of mobility data?

Mobility data with a wide range of spatial references is available on the market. As a rule, finely detailed data is used, for example, at street segment level or in grid cells with a resolution of up to 100 meters. PTV Logistics GmbH offers finely detailed data as well as regional and interregional data.

For which countries is mobility data available?

Mobility data is available for the whole of the world. Depending on the intended use, mobility data for all countries of the world is also available from PTV Logistics GmbH.

Which modes of transport are covered by mobility data (walking, cycling, car, public transport)?

Mobility data can include all modes of transport and is also available for all modes of movement.