Mobile Data to Help Map Travel Patterns in the Riga Planning Region

Riga Planning Region (RPR) has launched an initiative to map residents’ travel patterns across the Riga Planning Region and the Riga Metropolitan Area using mobile network data. The initiative is part of the SuRuMo project, funded by the Interreg Central Baltic Programme, and aims to support more effective transport planning and the development of sustainable mobility solutions.

The work is being carried out in cooperation with Latvijas Mobilais Telefons (LMT), which is analysing three months of mobile network data to better understand travel patterns across the Riga Planning Region. The data will support the development of a digital mobility planning tool that will help transport specialists visualise travel flows between different areas and identify where new mobility services may be needed or existing services could be improved.

The analysis will also make it possible to examine how travel patterns vary over time, including differences between months, weekdays and weekends, as well as different times of day and periods of higher traffic intensity.

Compared with traditional data sources, such as public transport ticket sales, official statistics and passenger surveys, mobile network data can provide a more detailed picture of travel movements and commuting between areas. This information can support better-informed decisions on transport planning at both local and regional levels.

Through SuRuMo, Riga Planning Region is working to improve sustainable mobility options in areas where residents have limited access to essential destinations without a private car. The initiative is expected to provide planners with additional evidence to help develop mobility solutions that better reflect residents’ actual travel needs.

Source: Diena.lv – Using mobile data to study travel patterns in the Riga Region