title: Multi-scale spatio-temporal analysis of human mobility.
abstract: The recent availability of digital traces generated by phone calls and online logins has significantly increased the scientific understanding of human mobility. Until now, however, limited data resolution and coverage have hindered a coherent description of human displacements across different spatial and temporal scales. Here, we characterise mobility behaviour across several orders of magnitude by analysing ∼850 individuals' digital traces sampled every ∼16 seconds for 25 months with ∼10 meters spatial resolution. We show that the distributions of distances and waiting times between consecutive locations are best described by log-normal and gamma distributions, respectively, and that natural time-scales emerge from the regularity of human mobility. We point out that log-normal distributions also characterise the patterns of discovery of new places, implying that they are not a simple consequence of the routine of modern life.
authors.affiliation: City, University of London, London EC1V 0HB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alessandretti
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sapiezynski
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.|Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 København Ø, Denmark.
authors.forename: Sune
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.affiliation: City, University of London, London EC1V 0HB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baronchelli
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D013997:Time Factors