Evaluation of the Use of a City Center through the Use of Bluetooth Sensors Network

Javier Martínez Plumé, Juan José Marténez Durá, Ramón Vicente Cirilo Gimeno, Francisco Ramón Soriano García and Antonio García Celda
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Javier Martínez Plumé: Institute of Robotics and Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat de Valencia, 46980 Paterna, Spain
Juan José Marténez Durá: Institute of Robotics and Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat de Valencia, 46980 Paterna, Spain
Ramón Vicente Cirilo Gimeno: Institute of Robotics and Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat de Valencia, 46980 Paterna, Spain
Francisco Ramón Soriano García: Institute of Robotics and Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat de Valencia, 46980 Paterna, Spain
Antonio García Celda: Institute of Robotics and Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat de Valencia, 46980 Paterna, Spain

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: In order to achieve the objectives of Smart Cities, public administrations need to take measures to regulate mobility, which undoubtedly requires a high level of information and sensorization. Until the implementation of the connected vehicle takes place, it is still necessary to install sensors to obtain information about mobility. Bluetooth sensors are becoming a useful tool due to the low cost of equipment and installation. The use of Bluetooth sensors in cities, with short distances between sensors, makes it necessary to propose new classification algorithms that allow the trips of pedestrians and vehicles to be differentiated. This article presents the study carried out in the city of Valencia to determine the use of motor vehicles in the historic center and propose a new classification algorithm to distinguish between an onboard Bluetooth device and the same device carried by a pedestrian when it is not possible to use the travel time for the classification due to the short distance between sensors. This causes very similar or even indistinguishable travel times for vehicles and for pedestrians. We also propose an algorithm that allows vehicles to be classified according to what type of trip is made always through the historical center of Valencia, whether it is to make a shorter itinerary through the city or to access the center for any type of business. This algorithm would enable the Origin-Destination matrix of an urban network with short distances between sensors if they are available in all entries and exits. Likewise, the results obtained have allowed to positively evaluate the algorithm defined to distinguish between trips made by a pedestrian or a vehicle in a city, using the MAC address of their mobile devices with very short distances among sensors. The results of this study show that it is possible to use Bluetooth technology, with low cost installations, to evaluate the use of the city by motor vehicles.

Keywords: bluetooth sensor; Origin-Destination matrices; vehicle and pedestrian travel time; smart city; traffic management; mobility studies using BT; valencia city center (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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