Geolocation Data as a Research Tool for the Organization of the Settlement System and Mobility Mapping – Case Study of the Spatial Mobility Model in Czechia

Abstract

Geolocation data is a widely used source of the spatial information about the population. Their great potential might be also used for population mobility research to identify spatial interactions forming the hierarchical structure of the settlement system. For this purpose, a model of data acquisition and their preliminary analysis was developed. This model represents an effective tool for mapping the mobility behavior of the population. Using the example of Czechia, primary commuting links are identified, which are subsequently analyzed in detail using GIS tools in both desktop and online environments. Therefore, important commuting centers of different hierarchical levels are defined by the volume and nature of spatial interactions. This approach is used as a source of important expertise for the proposals on subsequent administration reform in Czechia. Nevertheless, the entire model is generally transferable, and the entire method of using the geolocation data for mapping the hierarchy within the settlement system can be replicated in other countries as well.