transport logistic 2017

••• 10••• Innovationen Mobility behaviour under the microscope Fraunhofer IAO conrms the potential of mobile network data for transport planning T he overburdening of city transport systems is becom- ing an increasing challenge. But before cities can take concrete action, they need to gather pre- cise traffic data. This is often very time consuming and expensive. A study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO in cooperation with industrial part- ners found that mobile network data can make a positive contribu- tion to transport planning. To clar- ify, analyses were carried out for the city of Stuttgart with the help of anonymised and aggregated mobile network data, which pro- vide detailed insights into the ac- tual travel behaviour of Stuttgart residents. This gives an idea of the data’s potential. Mobile network data is generated by millions and millions of cus- tomers. This happens when mo- bile phones communicate with mobile cell sites when using the internet or making calls. This da- ta is anonymised via a three-step process, which is certified by the TÜV, so that it is no longer possi- ble to draw conclusions back to individual persons. Big telecom- munications operators are eyeing the social and economic advan- tage that can be obtained from analysing such large, anonymised and aggregated volumes of data. By assigning a mobile phone to the mobile cell sites, anonymised flows of movement can be calcu- lated that represent around half the population of Germany. The central question of the study was what added value for transport planning and what potential uses these flows of movement offer. The strengths of mobile network data “Recording mobility behaviour in cities across modes of transport is a complex undertaking. Our study shows that mobile network data can make a positive contribution to transport planning. The data is available in high spatial and tem- poral resolution, and provides new insight into the factors influ- encing urban transport,” explains Professor Anette Weisbecker, vice director of Fraunhofer IAO. Current transport planning relies largely on manual recording in the form of surveys. Supplementary, real-time data sources, such as anonymised mobile network da- ta, are a valuable addition. Com- pared to surveys, mobile network data is available around the clock. It can minimise the number of ex- pensive surveys and shorten the previous survey cycles. Another benefit is that no additional infra- structure is needed to collect mo- bile network data. The possibility of obtaining comprehensive infor- mation about non-users of mobil- ity offers is also interesting. Thanks to these characteristics, complete journeys using differ- ent modes of transport can be understood, which was not previ- ously possible as such. The mobile network data for Stuttgart shows that a lot of commuter traffic is directed through the state capital due to its basin location. Howev- er, the commuter flows are divid- ed between road and commuter rail line, as is clearly apparent from the anonymised mobile net- work data. This possibility, of re- cording different modes of trans- port at the same time, could offer transport planners considerable added value in future. The data could also help to examine time- limited events and external influ- encing factors. An analysis of the data shows the impact of a public festival on the mobility behaviour. Where to use mobile network data In the short term, mobile network data serve to test and supplement existing transport models. In the medium term, the further devel- opment of special algorithms and models will allow for better plan- ning of mobility systems and new findings on passenger transport. “The considerable potential of mobile network data can only be realised through the accompany- ing offer of corresponding analy- sis tools,” summarise the authors. The experts also consider the new data source to be useful for transport planning and see great potential for route planning for local public transport. “With the help of mobile network data, it would be possible to obtain con- tinuous information on general transport demand. This could sup- plement our own manual trans- port surveys, which we carry out less frequently. One advantage of this would be that we could save costs on occasional surveys,” says Thomas Hachenberger, general manager of the Stuttgart Trans- port and Tariff Association (VVS). By using the mobile phone, we constantly reveal our movements in the city. Photo: Günter Havlena / pixelio.de As city transport systems are overburdened, new analytic tools and new solutions for transport plannning are much-needed. Photo: Rolf Handke / pixelio.de