Spatial Analysis of Citizens' Travel Data: The Pollicino Project

Shifting mobility paradigms are leading to fragmented and flexible travel patterns in cities, no longer captured by traditional survey methods. Sensor data provided by multiple devices, including smartphones, enables ever more sophisticated analyses, that meet the necessity in understanding our environment. In this context, this research investigated citizens' travel behavior in Bologna, using GPS data collected through the Pollicino project, an app-based mobility survey carried out between May and June 2022. The study is structured in a data cleaning, processing, and mapping methodology, with the objective to identify spatial behaviors of citizens. The proposed analysis uncovered soft modes as predominant and concentrated in central zones of the city. Temporal assessments unveiled peak travel times, while aggregation reveals unique mobility patterns. Leisure emerges as the leading trip purpose. Notably, results highlighted that GPS data sourced through a mobility survey produces important insights to understand granular mobility behaviors, shedding light on key information for city planning and sustainable transportation.