CELLULAR PROBE TECHNOLOGIES MOVING FORWARD: THE CURRENT TRENDS AND PERSPECTIVES ON 3G, 4G, AND SMARTPHONE APPLICATIONS

摘要

Cellular probe data has evolved and has become a major data source in traveler information provision, transportation planning, and traffic management. Recently, cellphone industries have progressed in extremely rapid pace with the upgrading in wireless communication standards into 3G and 4G, and the rise and market domination of smartphones with their integration with social media and cloud computing. In this paper, we attempt to provide perspectives on how existing cellular probe technologies may adapt to the transition from 2G to 3G and 4G communication standards and from traditional feature phones to smartphones by reviewing the state of research and practice, the technology trend of future communication standards, and smartphone based applications. We conducted a comprehensive discussion on the opportunities and challenges of cellular probe technologies in the future.