Combining travel survey and mobile network operator data to produce disaggregated trip statistics
Abstract
Travel Survey has traditionally been the source for yearly official trip statistics of the resident population. In addition to population totals, disaggregated trip statistics are of great interest to many users, such as monthly trips or local trips inside different regions. However, due to the limited sample size, direct survey estimates would be too unstable to be acceptable. Meanwhile, trip counts can be produced using Mobile Network Operator (MNO) data that are derived from the contact signals of in-scope devices. Despite the differences of their coverage, concept and measurement, Travel Survey and MNO data can potentially be combined to yield fit-for-purpose disaggregated trip statistics. We present the relevant methods and their application in Sweden. The disaggregated trip statistics are now available publicly at Transport Analysis’ web portal.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Human Mobility and Location-Based Analysis
Transportation Planning and Optimization
Survey Methodology and Nonresponse
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Statistical Journal of the IAOS
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 640–652
- Publication date
- 29 April 2026
- Language
- EN