Transportation Impacts of Information Provision & Data Collection via Smartphones

The proliferation of smartphones over the next decade, with their abilities to provide personalized travel information and collect highly detailed data, will likely have significant impacts on transportation operations, systems planning, and travel behavior. Three core issues are studied to understand these impacts. First, the authors examine the key differences between past intelligent transportation systems (ITS) efforts and new opportunities made possible by the rapid proliferation of smartphones. Second, system frameworks for data collection and information provision are presented in order to better understand the potential impacts of smartphones. Third, the authors outline some of the possible impacts of these devices on transportation, based on an examination of past efforts and a look at new technologies and cutting-edge applications. In addition, the authors consider some of the challenges that these devices need to overcome to maximize their transportation benefits. While it is impossible to predict the full extent of future technological impacts, this paper seeks to emphasize the opportunities made possible by rapid advances in mobile phone technology.