Floating car data

In contrast to stationary devices such as traffic cameras, number plate recognition systems, and induction loops embedded in the roadway, no additional hardware on the road network is necessary.

As GSM localisation is less accurate than GPS based systems, many phones must be tracked and complex algorithms used to extract high-quality data.

Advantages over GPS-based or conventional methods such as cameras or street embedded sensors include: No infrastructure or hardware in cars or along the road.

A 2007 study by GMU investigated the relationship between vehicle free flow speed and geometric variables on urban street segments using FCD.

[5] A small number of cars (typically fleet vehicles such as courier services and taxi drivers) are equipped with a box that contains a GPS receiver.