Mobile data for studying public space, and trips in Mexico City: a study case of six suburban zones

This study uses anonymized GPS traces to explore travel patterns within six suburban zones and a central area in Mexico City. The descriptive analysis presented in this paper profiles trips by distance and investigates their distribution within each zone. It examines the prevalence of local trips, walkability, and the availability and spread of entertainment sites within 15 -min isochrones accessible by foot, bicycle, transit, and private vehicle. Notably, the central zone boasts diverse entertainment offerings, commendable walkability, and a substantial proportion of short and long trips. It is found that GPS traces are within their home. However, the share of long trips for the inhabitants of central zones is considerably more significant than that for the suburbs. The study highlights suburban zones that could benefit from governmental intervention to enhance transportation and pedestrian conditions. Additionally, it identifies other suburban zones that resemble the central areas in terms of walkability, trip distribution by distances, and the accessibility of entertainment places. Policy Significance Statement The relevance of this research can be applied as an instrument to prioritize places for interventions according to population needs. Different tools have been developed and can be customized to analyze cell phone data. This analysis is valuable for stakeholders and government decision -makers to support their strategies. Suppose public administrations seek to integrate, propose service systems at a metropolitan level or change land uses. In that case, they can base their programming on the results obtained in this study. Also, this methodology could be adapted or replicated for other types of relevant projects where planning is based on verifiable data, which will reduce execution costs and guarantee a substantial improvement in the mobility of the inhabitants.