Path Analysis
Definition
Path analysis evaluates the sequence of locations traversed by people, vehicles, wildlife, or processes to understand behavior, efficiency, and constraints. In GIS it uses ordered trajectories with timestamps, capturing speed, pauses, detours, and loops. Methods include map matching to networks, stay-point detection, and segmentation by activity. Analytics compute common paths, travel-time distributions, and deviations from optimal routes. Privacy is a core concern—aggregation, differential privacy, or on-device processing can protect individuals. In ecology, path analysis reveals migration corridors and barriers; in operations, it exposes bottlenecks and safety risks. Visualizations include spaghetti plots, density lines, and time-space cubes.
Application
Retailers analyze shopper paths in malls (aggregated) to optimize layout. Cities study bike and scooter traces to design protected lanes. Logistics tracks delivery routes for on-time performance. Parks assess trail erosion from popular lines. Emergency management reconstructs evacuation flows to improve planning. Archaeology infers ancient paths from least-cost models and artifact distributions.
FAQ
How do you correct GPS drift in dense cities?
Use map matching with heading and speed constraints, plus barometric or IMU data. Snap to likely edges while preserving uncertainty measures.
What constitutes a ‘stop’ in trajectories?
Define dwell-time and distance thresholds contextually (e.g., ≥2 minutes within 20 m). Label stays with POIs to interpret activities.
Can path analysis be real-time?
Yes—stream trajectories, detect anomalies, and alert for unsafe behaviors. Rate limits and privacy guards are essential.
How do we compare observed paths to optimal ones?
Compute shortest or fastest paths under the same constraints, then measure excess distance/time; analyze causes like congestion or blockages.
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