Uncertainty and error in location traces

Location traces are highly informative because of their potential to infer physical activity or presence. Their prevalence has increased largely due to the rise of digital devices, their encompassed location-based services and other positioning technologies ( Raubal et al., 2004 ). However, there is little research that explores and supports their exploitation, which hampers the confidence that can be placed in it. Location traces are indeed subject to uncertainty and errors, notably in their production and exploitation processes. This article aims to shed some light on the uncertainty and errors associated with smartphone location traces and calls for research to be developed on that topic. Several empirical examples are developed throughout the article to better illustrate these issues. • Uncertainty and errors in the production and exploitation of location traces. • Empirical examples of such errors, with their implications. • Call for research on location traces to establish their reliability.