Traffic flow shown on maps - how is this determined?
Discussion
Looking at, for example, the AA's travel news page for a specific area, if there are road works or an incident then the flow of traffic is shown in colours varying from green (all good), to yellow and ultimately to dark red (barely any movement).
Obviously in towns, cities, etc where there are cams and presumably sensors, the traffic flow can be easily monitored, but how about in rural areas where there are no cams for miles? Despite the total absence of cams the AA info (and other maps) still seem to update reasonably accurately to indicate how traffic is flowing - this makes me wonder how it's calculated.
Obviously in towns, cities, etc where there are cams and presumably sensors, the traffic flow can be easily monitored, but how about in rural areas where there are no cams for miles? Despite the total absence of cams the AA info (and other maps) still seem to update reasonably accurately to indicate how traffic is flowing - this makes me wonder how it's calculated.
Does it work in a similar way to how I assume something like Waze works? I believe that works off other users and how they are moving, like how it asks if you've stopped on the motorway in heavy, light traffic etc?
But the question is, how would it know even that if it's not through an app. GPS tracking in modern cars? If that exists in this capacity.
It's a good question.
But the question is, how would it know even that if it's not through an app. GPS tracking in modern cars? If that exists in this capacity.
It's a good question.
Big Nanas said:
Much of Google's data will be coming from tracking location information from Android devices.
How does that distinguish from readings from foot traffic though? For example, if that data was used, then in a rural location a line of walkers with phones on even a quiet lane would trigger the traffic flow to show red.Edited by Lightemup on Wednesday 30th July 10:04
LimmerickLad said:
DonkeyApple said:
In the early days they used a network of cameras but it's just done with mobile phone tracking today.
Just tracking of those using the directions apps? DonkeyApple said:
LimmerickLad said:
DonkeyApple said:
In the early days they used a network of cameras but it's just done with mobile phone tracking today.
Just tracking of those using the directions apps? Lightemup said:
Big Nanas said:
Much of Google's data will be coming from tracking location information from Android devices.
How does that distinguish from readings from foot traffic though? For example, if that data was used, then in a rural location a line of walkers with phones on even a quiet lane would trigger the traffic flow to show red.Edited by Lightemup on Wednesday 30th July 10:04
A Berlin-based artist, Simon Weckert, created a "traffic jam" on Google Maps by walking with a cart containing 99 phones, according to The Guardian and WIRED.
The phones, reporting their location, tricked Google Maps into thinking a slow-moving traffic jam existed on the streets he traversed.
The experiment aimed to demonstrate how Google Maps uses location data from smartphones to determine traffic conditions and could be manipulated.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
The Experiment:
Weckert gathered 99 phones, likely borrowed or rented, and placed them in a small red cart.
The Deception:
He then walked with the cart along various streets in Berlin, causing Google Maps to register a traffic jam on those routes.
How it Works:
Google Maps uses location data from smartphones to determine traffic flow. By having a large number of phones reporting slow movement on a particular route, it created a false traffic jam on the map.
Impact:
The experiment highlighted the reliance of Google Maps on user-generated data and the potential for manipulation.
Subsequent Reports:
Some users reported experiencing issues with Google Maps after the experiment, with the app suggesting unusual routes or displaying incorrect traffic information.
The phones, reporting their location, tricked Google Maps into thinking a slow-moving traffic jam existed on the streets he traversed.
The experiment aimed to demonstrate how Google Maps uses location data from smartphones to determine traffic conditions and could be manipulated.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
The Experiment:
Weckert gathered 99 phones, likely borrowed or rented, and placed them in a small red cart.
The Deception:
He then walked with the cart along various streets in Berlin, causing Google Maps to register a traffic jam on those routes.
How it Works:
Google Maps uses location data from smartphones to determine traffic flow. By having a large number of phones reporting slow movement on a particular route, it created a false traffic jam on the map.
Impact:
The experiment highlighted the reliance of Google Maps on user-generated data and the potential for manipulation.
Subsequent Reports:
Some users reported experiencing issues with Google Maps after the experiment, with the app suggesting unusual routes or displaying incorrect traffic information.
98elise said:
DonkeyApple said:
LimmerickLad said:
DonkeyApple said:
In the early days they used a network of cameras but it's just done with mobile phone tracking today.
Just tracking of those using the directions apps? the cueball said:
I've wondered that with google maps that I use... normally I'm on a motorbike..
So when they tell me there is a 30 minute tail back on the motorway, and I filter through it in 5 minutes... I always wonder if I bugger up the map for some other people!
There must be a margin for 'fast movers' with the overall pace being determined from an average of passing devices. So when they tell me there is a 30 minute tail back on the motorway, and I filter through it in 5 minutes... I always wonder if I bugger up the map for some other people!
I always thought the same with those speed measurements strips that you sometimes see when the local authority is surveying speeds across a section of road before they decide whether or not to implement traffic calming etc. You sometimes see emergency vehicles (well, police cars) hitting them well over the posted speed limit - a traffic car might be doing 80mph over the strips on a 30mph zone - so surely someone at the local authority is discounting those from the overall Joe Public figures.
Don Roque said:
the cueball said:
I've wondered that with google maps that I use... normally I'm on a motorbike..
So when they tell me there is a 30 minute tail back on the motorway, and I filter through it in 5 minutes... I always wonder if I bugger up the map for some other people!
There must be a margin for 'fast movers' with the overall pace being determined from an average of passing devices. So when they tell me there is a 30 minute tail back on the motorway, and I filter through it in 5 minutes... I always wonder if I bugger up the map for some other people!
I always thought the same with those speed measurements strips that you sometimes see when the local authority is surveying speeds across a section of road before they decide whether or not to implement traffic calming etc. You sometimes see emergency vehicles (well, police cars) hitting them well over the posted speed limit - a traffic car might be doing 80mph over the strips on a 30mph zone - so surely someone at the local authority is discounting those from the overall Joe Public figures.
Lightemup said:
How does that distinguish from readings from foot traffic though? For example, if that data was used, then in a rural location a line of walkers with phones on even a quiet lane would trigger the traffic flow to show red.
The walkers and runners will be moving steady between 2-5 mph. They won't be stopping and Google will know that on an average day there is X amounts of mobile phones in this road moving at 2-5mph so can dismiss them as traffic. Then all of a sudden there's 50 phones in that area from people in cars that were travelling at 40mph, usually those phones travelling through this road at continue at 40mph without slowing, but now they've dropped to 10mph, as have cars (well their smartphones) in front and and beyond which suggests to google there is traffic, so line goes orange. Or those 40mph cars (phones) have now completely stopped so the lines go red.Edited by Lightemup on Wednesday 30th July 10:04
Everything you do on a smartphone is tracked. Obviously this isn't manual and it's data centres and algorithms are processing this but it's the tracking and algorithms that determine it. Exact same as how Google now's a gallery or museum or even pub or bus is "less busier than usual" or "more busy than usual".
NaePasaran said:
Lightemup said:
How does that distinguish from readings from foot traffic though? For example, if that data was used, then in a rural location a line of walkers with phones on even a quiet lane would trigger the traffic flow to show red.
The walkers and runners will be moving steady between 2-5 mph. They won't be stopping and Google will know that on an average day there is X amounts of mobile phones in this road moving at 2-5mph so can dismiss them as traffic. Then all of a sudden there's 50 phones in that area from people in cars that were travelling at 40mph, usually those phones travelling through this road at continue at 40mph without slowing, but now they've dropped to 10mph, as have cars (well their smartphones) in front and and beyond which suggests to google there is traffic, so line goes orange. Or those 40mph cars (phones) have now completely stopped so the lines go red.Edited by Lightemup on Wednesday 30th July 10:04
Everything you do on a smartphone is tracked. Obviously this isn't manual and it's data centres and algorithms are processing this but it's the tracking and algorithms that determine it. Exact same as how Google now's a gallery or museum or even pub or bus is "less busier than usual" or "more busy than usual".
The logic for the algorithm would be relatively simple, and would likely exclude (or average out) any outliers such as a single fast moving vehicle.
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