Academic Sandbox: Enabling Access and Exploration Mobile Positioning Data for Supporting Mobility Analytics

With the advancement of technology and the increasing use of mobile devices, large amounts of data are generated as a byproduct. One such dataset is Mobile Positioning Data (MPD), derived from Call Detail Records (CDR) collected by mobile network providers, which may estimate both individual and collective human mobility. MPD holds valuable insights into movement patterns and offers potential for solving various interdisciplinary challenges. However, its sensitive nature and proprietary restrictions limit access for academic researchers. To address this challenge, we propose the development of an academic sandbox system. This system leverages Kibana for interactive visualization and Elasticsearch for data storage and analysis, enabling researchers to explore MPD and derive insights without compromising raw data confidentiality. The system offers three dashboards to meet diverse research needs while protecting proprietary data: an overview dashboard displaying daily displacement, visit frequency, and travel distance; an origin-destination (OD) dashboard with OD matrix, arc diagrams, and tables; and an urban hotspot dashboard showing individual movement within districts or regions. This work creates new opportunities for research related to MPD-based mobility studies, such as investigating the impact of human movement patterns on the spread of COVID-19.