Traffic Analysis Using Historical GPS Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional traffic analysis methods, such as surveys and installations of inductive loops or cameras, are costly and provide limited, inaccurate data, hindering effective transportation planning.
Innovation Solution
A system that collects sequential location measurements from users via GPS, maps these data to a digital map, and determines traffic information for specific time periods, reducing costs and improving data accuracy by using navigation devices to gather and analyze historical GPS data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If inductive loops or cameras are placed in roads to measure traffic, then traffic data can be obtained, but the cost and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses GPS data from navigation devices as a copy or alternative representation of actual traffic conditions, replacing the need for physical inductive loops or cameras. The GPS location measurements from multiple users serve as a virtual copy of traffic flow data, achieving similar measurement objectives without deploying expensive physical infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages existing consumer GPS devices and their location measurements, which are already widely deployed and generate data continuously. Instead of installing permanent, expensive measurement infrastructure, the system utilizes readily available, low-cost GPS data from navigation devices that users already possess and operate.
2Loss of information
If limited surveys are conducted for traffic analysis, then some traffic information can be gathered, but the sample size and data comprehensiveness remain limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes navigation devices that serve multiple functions - primarily for navigation purposes, but simultaneously collecting valuable traffic data as a secondary function. This multi-functional approach allows the same device to provide both navigation services and contribute to traffic analysis, expanding data sources without requiring dedicated measurement infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages data that is already being collected and stored by users' own navigation devices for their personal navigation purposes. The GPS location measurements are generated automatically by the devices themselves without requiring additional active participation from users, making the data collection process self-service in nature.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of analyzing traffic by a system includes receiving sequential location measurements from users of the system, mapping the received sequential location measurements to a digital map and determining traffic information for a first time period based on mapped sequential location measurements corresponding to the first time period. A system may include a database configured to store sequential location measurements received from users of the system and a processor configured to extract sequential location measurements from the database and determine traffic information for a first period based on the extracted sequential location measurements. The sequential location measurements include periodic times and associated coordinates.