Visualization of city center users' distribution by GPS data analysis

Proposal of fixing centers based on citizens flow in Chiba city

Abstract

These days, many local municipalities institute their urban facility location plan for improving their urban structure. However, the spatial distribution of persons who live in Chiba city and use city centers is not considered in their location plans, which may lead to inappropriate policies. In this study, we have visualized the spatial distribution of persons using city centers in Chiba city by GPS analysis and have recognized its characteristics focusing on persons flow and locations of city centers. It is found that it is able to visualize the areas of city centers and inconvenient areas for using a city center based on a bottom-up approach. Results show that those areas don’t depend on a distance to the city center only. In addition to it, it is found that the total number of visitors to centers of several city structures can be evaluated on the basis of city center users’ distribution. That makes it possible to compare a city structure with another one in terms of the total number of city center users and to propose a new city structure.