Use of Cell Phone Network Data in Traffic Data Collection and Long-Haul Truckshed (Geographic Extent) Tracking

This study analyzed the potential of cell phone positioning techniques in freight trucks data collection and long-haul truckshed (geographic extent) tracking. The freight truck identification and tracking algorithms were developed by means of cell phone network data and the established freight truck analysis GIS to recognize the freight trucks and determine their geographic extent (trucksheds). A case study was conducted to illustrate the truckshed tracking process and verify the tracking result from the cell phone network. Cell phones leaving from the test logistics distribution center were tracked and classified based on the developed tracking algorithms. The case study also demonstrated the processes of determining the geographic extent and traffic impact on the transportation network from the test logistics distribution center. The results found that the proposed tracking algorithms can identify a similar percentage of freight truck data from the test facility. The analysis of geographic extent indicated that 60 percent of freight traffic stayed within 30 miles from the facility, and approximately 20 percent of the traffic was considered long-haul freight traffic traveling more than 80 miles away. The long-haul tracking results found that most of the long-haul trucks returned to the original test facility during the same day. It is recommended that the tracking algorithms and data analysis process can also be applied to any other freight trucking terminal or intermodal transportation facility as long as the cell phone network data are available. A complete freight GIS analysis network around the study area is also recommended before processing the study.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ABJ90 Freight Transportation Data
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Wang, Ming-Heng
  • Schrock, Steven D
  • Vander Broek, Nate
  • Mulinazzi, Thomas
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2012-1-22 to 2012-1-26
• Date: 2012

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 16p
• Monograph Title: TRB 91st Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Algorithms; Automatic data collection systems; Cellular telephones; Freight traffic; Geographic information systems; Traffic data
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Freight Transportation; I71: Traffic Theory;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01370350
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 12-4442
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 16 2012 4:09PM