Challenges of Combining Open and Commercial Data Sources in Visitor Mobility Estimations

This paper explores the opportunities and challenges of open data. Open and free interfaces can provide useful data, but sometimes there are challenges with data sufficiency and quality. Open data can be enriched by acquiring commercial data, and by merging multiple data sources, a more comprehensive understanding of a situation can be obtained. The focus of this paper is on nature parks, but the technical solutions can be applied to other venues. In the case presented by this paper, the parks are equipped with on-location visitor counters, and with the help of commercial data provided by a mobile network operator, and open sources, such as the weather and road traffic services, we are attempting to gain a better view of visitor movements. The motivation for this research originated from the cities located in the Satakunta region of Finland. For the purpose of developing recreational and business opportunities in the region, the cities require a better understanding of movement of people - which locations and services are popular, and which locations need improvement. To help achieve this goal, this paper presents a technical solution of how analysis and visualization of combined data can be used to estimate visitor amounts within a geographical area.