Tracking technologies and urban analysis

Recent technological developments have produced a range of sophisticated and readily available digital tracking technologies, of which the best known is the global positioning system (GPS). Yet, despite this remarkable surge in technology, researchers in the field of urban studies have failed to take full advantage of what these relatively new systems have to offer. Tracking technologies are able to provide high-resolution spatial and temporal data that could potentially, aid, augment, and advance research in various areas in the field of urban studies.This article presents an example of the use of aggregative data obtained from GPS receivers in order to better understand the impact of visitors to cities and to highlight the possibilities and the difficulties of using GPS technology in urban research projects. The study presented in this article took place in the Old City of Akko (Israel), a World Heritage Site since 2002.