Analyzing temporal usage patterns of street segments based on GPS data - a case study in Switzerland

Mobility has become a key component of our social and economic activities. Depending on our activities, the usage of the road network varies, showing, for example, an increased traffic load in early morning when people go to work. Such usage patterns are of interest not only for traffic management but also for private companies offering location-based services. In this paper we analyze the temporal usage of street segments based on a large GPS data set in Switzerland. We first conduct a clustering analysis which detects groups of segments with similar temporal usage patterns. Afterwards we analyze the patterns with respect to their temporal and spatial characteristics. Our analysis shows that GPS data is qualified for an analysis of temporal usage patterns, identifying shopping and leisure activities.