COVID-19 Mobility Patterns in Turkey: Analysis of Google and Apple Mobility Data

This report analyzes mobility changes in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic using publicly available mobility datasets from Google Mobility Reports and Apple Maps Trends. The study examines how mobility patterns changed across multiple activity categories, including workplaces, residential areas, retail and recreation, grocery and pharmacy visits, parks, walking activity, and transportation.

Data from Google Mobility and Apple Maps were collected, merged, and analyzed using Python (Pandas) with visualization performed using Matplotlib and Tableau dashboards. Mobility trends were evaluated across several pandemic phases, including pre-pandemic conditions, partial lockdown periods, normalization phases, and reopening stages.

The analysis reveals substantial shifts in mobility behavior during the pandemic. Workplace mobility declined significantly while residential activity increased. Grocery and pharmacy mobility increased substantially, indicating behavioral adaptation during lockdown periods. Walking and park visits increased markedly, suggesting shifts toward outdoor activity. Driving trends increased steadily while public transportation usage remained comparatively stable.

The findings provide insight into how pandemic restrictions influenced mobility behavior and offer implications for public policy, transportation planning, and urban mobility analysis.