Using Mobile Phone Data to Determine Human Mobility Patterns in Paris

With the rapid expansion of cities around the world, large number of movements are made daily as people commute from their homes to their destinations, including workplaces. From these movements, trends and patterns can be derived which in turn, can provide valuable insights for urban planning. This is particularly relevant in the 'smart cities' context. However, such movement data are often difficult to gather and analyse without infringing on privacy rights, especially with the increasing concerns on privacy issues. This paper reports on the use of aggregated mobile phone tracking data together with train network data to analyse movement patterns in, out, and within La Défense (Paris' business district). The findings can assist city planners by providing a better understanding of people's travel patterns.