A new strategic partnership will combine anonymized mobile phone network data with in-vehicle GPS data and advanced analytics tools, in order to drive the development of smart cities through the use of population movement insights.
Inrix, a global leader in traffic information and movement analytics, has announced that it has entered into a strategic agreement with Citi Logik, the UK market leader in understanding demand patterns derived from anonymized mobile phone network data. Together, the two companies will drive the development of smart cities in the UK by combining mobile network data provided via Citi Logik with Inrix’s vast network of GPS data and advanced analytics tools, to generate population movement insights, such as information about trips and travel habits, and real-time population density, for the benefit of transport agencies, local governments, city planners and enterprises, such as retailers.
Movement analytics delivers huge benefits for public sector agencies. Accurate population movement insights are key for national and local governments as they invest in transport infrastructure and improve urban mobility, with more people moving into the UK’s population centers. When combined with GPS data and advanced analytics capabilities, the billions of anonymized mobile network data points available to mobile operators can enable the accurate modeling of current and future population trends that will underpin the planning of smart cities. For enterprises, understanding where anonymous groups of people are, have been, how they got there, and where they may be going next, enables them to better engage with target audiences.
In February 2015, Inrix launched its Movement Analytics platform, which can combine billions of anonymized and aggregated mobile network data points with GPS data to provide population movement insights for the public sector and enterprises. The company has a history in delivering services to the public sector, with more than 60 transportation agencies worldwide using its services and analytics tools, including Highways England in the UK, the Road Administration of Rhineland-Palatinate and the Baden-Württemberg Road Traffic Centre in Germany, and the Danish Road Directorate in Denmark.
any existing city infrastructures are under strain, designed at times when populations were far smaller. The problem is only intensifying. By 2030, there will be 8.5 billion people in the world, with over 60% living in urban areas,” explained Rafay Khan, chief revenue officer at Inrix. “Our work with Citi Logik will help transport agencies and local governments in the UK to find new ways of extending and re-engineering cities to cope with a fast growing population, and the challenges faced from urbanization.”
Stephen Leece, managing director of Citi Logik, which was established in 2011 with funding from the UK Technology Strategy Board, added, “The value of mobile data cannot be understated, and enhancing network data with GPS offers the opportunity to provide greater levels of understanding of movement by foot, by vehicle and on trains. Working with Inrix will provide a step change in capability and a one-stop shop for movement analytics in the UK.”
