Variability in Regularity: Mining Temporal Mobility Patterns in London, Singapore and Beijing Using Smart-Card Data

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149222
• Publication Date: 2016-02-12T18:51:04Z
• Authors: Chen Zhong; Michael Batty; Ed Manley; Jiaqiu Wang; Zijia Wang; Feng Chen; Gerhard Schmitt
• Keywords: Temporal scales; Temporal resolution

To discover regularities in human mobility is of fundamental importance to our understanding urban dynamics, and essential city transport planning, management policymaking. Previous research has revealed universal at mainly aggregated spatio-temporal scales but when we zoom into finer scales, considerable heterogeneity diversity observed instead. The question address this paper what are the detect stable, explicable, sustainable. This thus proposes a basic measure variability assess stability such focusing on changes over range temporal scales. We demonstrate by comparing patterns three world cities, namely London, Singapore Beijing using one-week smart-card data. results show that variations regularity scale as non-linear functions resolution, which from 1 minute 24 hours reflecting diurnal cycle mobility. A particularly dramatic increase occurs up about 15 minutes all cities implies limits exist look forward or backward with respect making short-term predictions. degree varies fact showing higher comparison London across detailed discussion provided, relates analysis various characteristics cities. In summary, work contributes deeper transit use volumes travellers entering subway stations, it establishes generic analytical framework for comparative studies data, provides key points policy-makers intent travel experience more amenable.