Developing an Objective Measure of Urban Congestion across the Globe: the TomTom Traffic Index

摘要

'Big Data' is currently a popular term which inherently suggests that there are new opportunities for useful applications of information generated by recent technological advances. One application of 'Big Data' developed by TomTom is the Traffic Index. The Traffic Index uses GPS probe data to measure and compare travel time delays in 200 cities across 6 continents. Its purpose is twofold: first to encourage travelers to make more informed choices about when and how they travel, second to help planning organizations and transport authorities gain an overview of system performance and make more informed investment decisions. The Traffic Index is one of many initiatives that exist with the aim to understand urban mobility in a wider, international perspective, but is unique in its global coverage, detail and objectivity. This is exemplified by the agreement signed between United Nations Habitat and TomTom for cooperation.