Best Mobility Datasets, Databases & APIs

What is Mobility Data?

Mobility data refers to collected data of activities, events, and transactions through devices or services that track real-time mobility. This data is recorded through points of spatial location (latitude and longitude) over a period of time. Mobility-enabled devices include smartphones, shared mobility vehicles like shared bikes, scooters, and app-based navigation like Google Maps. Mobility data has a time-based element depending on which location and data points. Other data, like travel speed and user information, can also be captured with these devices.

How is Mobility Data collected?

Mobility data can be collected in different ways:
GPS-enabled Devices: Mobility data can be collected through devices that are GPS ready. Examples of this are smartphones, e-bikes, cars, watches. These devices offer a real-time collection of data through a series of points and signals.
Individual Trip Records: Shared mobility like a ride-hail trips and trips recorded through app-based navigation systems can also be collected. The data recorded may be the start and end of a journey, the number of turns, and the time and speed it takes to travel from one point to another.
Location Telemetry data: This data records movements and sensors through a vehicle. This data reads the location, speed, brake position, and direction, etc. to determine the effects of driving in different conditions, for example speeding or harsh-braking.

What are the attributes of Mobility Data?

Mobility data may include different attributes. Amongst the most common are the number of steps taken, distance travelled, speed, direction, start and finish time of a trip, O-D reports, number of breaks, and user or driver information. These attributes can be used to enrich raw data, so that it’s more organized, accurate and comprehensive. By having the correct data, it’s faster to formulate and derive usfeul insights from mobility data to be useful.

What is Mobility Data used for?

Both private and public organizations can utilize mobility data to aid them with their projects. Private organizations like businesses can use this data with their navigation systems to provide accurate direction and optimized route planning. And public organizations like the policy-makers can use this data to help reduce traffic. Mobility data is also used to improve mapping apps and orientation services like SatNavs, to be used to guide travelers if they are in an unfamiliar location.

How can a user assess the quality of Mobility Data?

The best mobility data provider will be able to explain where they source their data and how they observe data privacy regulations. Also, the data must be accurate, real-time, reliable, and free from error. You should also check on how often providers update and clean their data. The best data providers will also offer sample data for you to verify the accuracy. Furthermore, check reviews of the data provider to ensure you will not encounter problems using their mobility data.

Where can I buy Mobility Data?

Data providers and vendors listed on Datarade sell Mobility Data products and samples. Popular Mobility Data products and datasets available on our platform are Lifesight Human Mobility data by time of day, aggregated to Geohash/Quadkey/hex by Lifesight, Precise POI Data | UK, France, Italy, Germany & Spain by Echo Analytics, and Building Footprints data | UK, France, Italy, Germany & Spain by Echo Analytics.

How can I get Mobility Data?

You can get Mobility Data via a range of delivery methods - the right one for you depends on your use case. For example, historical Mobility Data is usually available to download in bulk and delivered using an S3 bucket. On the other hand, if your use case is time-critical, you can buy real-time Mobility Data APIs, feeds and streams to download the most up-to-date intelligence.

What are similar data types to Mobility Data?

Mobility Data is similar to Location Data, Map Data, Satellite Data, Point of Interest (POI) Data, and GIS Data. These data categories are commonly used for Location Analytics and Location-based Audience Analytics.

What are the most common use cases for Mobility Data?

The top use cases for Mobility Data are Location Analytics, Location-based Audience Analytics, and Urban Mobility Analysis.