Enhanced detection of road traffic congestion areas using cell dwell times

Abstract

In this study, we demonstrate that traffic congestion areas could be identified by observing cell dwell time, which is the length of time that a mobile device remains registered to a base station until it switches to another base station in a cellular wireless network. Based on routine measurements from Bangkok roads and freeways in Thailand, we have found that large cell dwell times were usually associated with traffic congestion areas. Our additional measurements through GPS devices and video record also confirm such finding