Data from telecommunication networks for incident management: An exploratory review on transport safety and security

Problems such as traffic congestion and environmental sustainability are forcing us to review our long-term plans for transport, whose aim should be to develop and improve safety, security and effectiveness of the transportation systems. The consequences of traffic accidents are not only limited to road travellers (congestion, delays), but may also affect the area surrounding the incidents, for instance, the release of chemical substances. The lack of a real-time assessment of the mobility consequences of an incident, as well as of its wider consequences for the surrounding area, in terms of security and safety, hampers the decision-makers ability to respond effectively to an incident and to manage its consequences.After recognizing the great potential of electronic data in supporting traffic management and interpreting space–time geography, the paper focuses on the use of data obtained from cellular-phone networks in supporting incident management, with particular attention to transport safety and security. The literature review, coupled with the description of some illustrations of applications in the city of Amsterdam, allows highlighting the advantages and limitations of this technology in the field of transport safety and security.

► The topic of traffic IM is one of the key concerns in transportation security and safety policy.
► Telecom data has a great potential to provide new types of information services to improve situational awareness.
► Telecom data could provide real-time information of the number of people who are affected by an incident.
► Telecom data could be a useful source for incident detection, prediction of flows and site accessibility of emergency services.
► The use of telecom data for incident management is strongly related to the magnitude of an accident.