Introduction
The Eastern Transportation Coalition (TETC), spanning 19 states and the District of Columbia, is dedicated to fostering connectivity and enhancing safety and efficiency across various modes of travel within the public sector. In their recent report called “Initial TDM Validation Activity: Origin-Destination Core Data”, TETC conducted an extensive evaluation of origin-destination data from four of its approved data vendors featured on the TETC Transportation Data Marketplace, with AirSage being one of the key participants.
Data Validation Process
TETC's assessment involved two key components. The first was a completed questionnaire about the data providers’ methodology, data characteristics, data access/privacy, and data resiliency. The second was a set of sample origin-destination (O-D) data for Richmond, Virginia filtered by custom traffic analysis zones (TAZs), date range of October 2022, day type, and day part. Other filters included vehicle type, vehicle class, and trip characteristics.
Results
Questionnaire
A summary of the questionnaires revealed various differences between the four data providers. Key distinctions included varying data sources, the representation of average versus total trips, the provision of intersection-level origin-destination data, methods for data request, and the level of disruption anticipated in the event of the unavailability of primary data sources.
Sample Data
When scrutinizing the sample data, it is evident that the four providers generated generally consistent results with minor deviations. Notably, Inrix, Streetlight, and AirSage displayed very similar figures for trip count, average trip distance, and average travel time when segmented by Day Type & Day Part and respective vendor-specific filters. Conversely, Geotab's data diverged the most, likely ascribed to its exclusive reliance on commercial fleets as the primary data source.
Furthermore, the evaluation encompassed other data comparisons, including visualizations of the County Level OD Matrices, Top O-D Pairs at County Levels, and Top Origin and Destinations at County Level. Here too, Streetlight, Inrix, and AirSage exhibited closely aligned data patterns. Geotab emerged as the outlier once more, presumably due to its lack of supplementary data sources beyond commercial fleets.
In recounting the customer experience with AirSage during the sample data acquisition process, TETC commended the streamlined nature of data procurement, stating:
“Overall, the process of acquiring data was streamlined. The upfront meeting with AirSage helped clarify issues right away, and the fact that AirSage runs queries on the user’s behalf means that the user does not have to be concerned about understanding nuanced (and potentially impactful) parameter settings.
TETC's Takeaways
At the end of the report, TETC noted key takeaways from the evaluation of the four data providers which are quoted below:
Report Exclusions
Since the drafting of this report, a few things have changed at AirSage:
Methodology: Data Sources and Travel Modes
The report mentioned that AirSage cannot segregate modes within LBS data, implying that it does not provide pedestrian or bike data. However, beginning in June 2024, AirSage now offers Pedestrian Activity Density data which offers insights into high density areas of non-motorized activity. These areas are identified by using location-based services (LBS) data to capture mobile devices moving less than 1.5 m/s in a given study area. Various organizations have already begun leveraging AirSage Pedestrian Activity Density for initiatives like Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) projects and the development of pedestrian and bicycle plans.
Data Access and Privacy
In the Data Request and Data Delivery Format sections, the report indicated that AirSage data request is by consultation only, and data delivery is by direct CSV download link. However, AirSage recently launched the AirSage Transportation Platform in April 2024, which allows for easy access and visualization of mobility data. Users have the option to request data from the platform as well as use it as a mode of data delivery if desired.
Resiliency
The report stated that AirSage has demonstrated resilience by its ability to recover quickly from losses in the past - specifically, the market disruption in April 2022. To illustrate this resilience, AirSage detailed the evolution of its data panel's composition, emphasizing device quality, source reliability, and panel size in a comprehensive article. This narrative is further substantiated by the release of the study "LBS Data is Not Dead (Part 2): A Study of Actual Traffic Events Using AirSage LBS Data," reaffirming the high caliber and reliability of AirSage's LBS data offerings.
Conclusion
In summary, the Eastern Transportation Coalition's (TETC) evaluation of origin-destination data from multiple providers on the TETC Transportation Data Marketplace has provided valuable insights. Through a comprehensive questionnaire and analysis of sample data for Richmond, Virginia, TETC has shed light on the unique strengths and variations among the four data providers – AirSage, Inrix, Streetlight, and Geotab.
Nonetheless, it is worth noting some advancements at AirSage that were not captured in the report. The recent introduction of the Pedestrian Activity Density data by AirSage has proven to be a game-changer, offering insights into non-motorized activity patterns. The launch of the user-friendly AirSage Transportation Platform has provided an alternative means for data request and delivery, enhancing accessibility and ease of use for customers. Furthermore, the confirmation of AirSage's data reliability and accuracy, particularly in its Location-Based Services (LBS) data, further solidifies its position as a trusted and leading data provider in the transportation industry.
To delve deeper into AirSage's origin-destination (O-D) data offering on the TETC Transportation Data Marketplace, visit: https://airsage.com/tetc/
