The appearance of large geolocated communication datasets has recently increased our understanding of how social networks relate to their physical space. However, many recurrently reported properties, such as the spatial clustering of network communities, have not yet been systematically tested at different scales. In this work we analyze the social network structure of over 25 million phone users from three countries at three different scales: country, provinces and cities. We consistently find that this last urban scenario presents significant differences to common knowledge about social...
In recent years, economic, environmental, and political forces have quickly given rise to “Smart Cities” -- an array of strategies that can transform transportation in cities. Using a multi-method approach to research and develop a framework for smart cities, this study provides a framework that can be employed to: (1) understand what a smart city is and how to replicate smart city successes; (2) the role of pilot projects, metrics, and evaluations to test, implement, and replicate strategies; and (3) understand the role of shared micromobility, big data, and other key issues impacting...
There is an increasing trend of people leaving digital traces through social media. This reality opens new horizons for urban studies. With this kind of data, researchers and urban planners can detect many aspects of how people live in cities and can also suggest how to transform cities into more efficient and smarter places to live in. In particular, their digital trails can be used to investigate tastes of individuals, and what attracts them to live in a particular city or to spend their vacation there. In this paper we propose an unconventional way to study how people experience the...
Human mobility in a city represents a fascinating complex system that combines social interactions, daily constraints and random explorations. New collections of data that capture human mobility not only help us to understand their underlying patterns but also to design intelligent systems. Bringing us the opportunity to reduce traffic and to develop other applications that make cities more adaptable to human needs. In this paper, we propose an adaptive routing strategy which accounts for individual constraints to recommend personalized routes and, at the same time, for constraints imposed...
The trend of digitalization and smart cities is enabling new Traffic Signal Control methods, with urban transportation Digital Twins acting as a key asset, enabling data-based approaches for reducing urban traffic congestion. We propose a Digital-Twin-enabled Deep-Q-Network Traffic Signal Control scheme, trained to improve the signal control efficiency of a single intersection in spite of possible sensor failures. The controller is trained using a Digital Twin of the western half of Södermalm, Stockholm, with rewards mirroring the Max-pressure signal control. We demonstrate in simulations...
Researchers investigated the testing and evaluation of radio and communication protocol standards for the 5.9 GHz spectrum that has been approved by the Federal Communications Commission for exclusive transportation use. This spectrum allocation is intended for use as Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) in the context of high-value Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) applications. In this report, we summarize the Wireless Access in a Vehicular Environment (WAVE) standardization effort for 5.9 GHz DSRC, its current status, and related issues of the IEEE 802.11p and IEEE 1609...
The transportation landscape is in transition. Rising congestion, failing infrastructure, changing behaviors, adapting to a more inclusive definition of mobility, the desire for cleaner and more efficient engines, and grappling with the role of autonomous vehicles and drones, to name just some of the factors, demands that we take a fresh approach to designing for mobility. Yet the rapid pace of technology development is creating emerging trends that are driving change faster than our ability to model, design, and manage them. This could potentially result in undesirable economic,...
