Mapping Pedestrian Movement: Using Tracking Technologies in Koblenz

Abstract

The enhancement of GPS technology enables the use of GPS devices not only as navigation tools, but also instruments used to capture a travelled route. In the Spatial Metro project, this ability has been used to develop a method to track pedestrians in city centres. Where have you been, and what have you been doing?

In combination with traditional methods of analysis, these tracks result in a valuable instrument that shows the actual movement of people within an urban context. Individual tracks produce quantitative data in terms of location in time and space, resulting in the duration and the distance of visits. The track logs can be projected onto geographical information in GIS, generating maps showing the collective use of space, destinations and intensities.

This chapter focuses on the results of tracking pedestrians in Koblenz. The research question was how actual patterns of use are related to the physical conditions of the context and proposed investments. The outcomes of tracking were cross-matched with four analysis drawings: access points, commercial activities, points of interest and investments. The cross-match delivered useful conclusions with regard to missing links, barriers, lacking programme and the focus for future investments in public space.