ABSTRACT
Global positioning system (GPS)-enabled smartphones make collecting data on the routes cyclists choose easier than ever. Geometric approaches map GPS points to the nearest point, link, or node in a network. The post-data collection process requires cleaning the data, adding links as needed to an existing roadway network file, and then relating the remaining GPS points with the network links to identify the path most likely taken by the cyclist on the net work. Topological methods improve network mapping compared to the geometric methods because they consider how network links connect together to limit selection to feasible paths. Mapping the GPS points to the network follows the data cleaning and network completion steps. GPS-enabled smartphones produce data useful for tracking cyclists' routes, but because of the inherent errors in tracking movement with GPS, analyzing the data requires an algorithm to map routes to the established network of roadways and off-road paths.
