Using smartphones as a tool to capture road traffic attributes

Road network management under critical conditions is achievable by adopting technologies that trace vehicles and capture “unsafety” events to provide users with real time traffic information. Most common approaches used to acquire vehicle tracking data are based on video image processing algorithms and satellite navigation systems. However, many studies are increasingly focused on the emerging smartphone technologies for tracking vehicles. The aim of this study is to present a procedure for acquiring vehicle tracking data from smartphone sensors, supporting managers of transportation systems to take effective decisions on their networks, especially in conjunction with special events and/or critical road safety issues