Mastering the metropolis through research and thought leadership.
Working Papers

Measuring movement and social contact with smartphone data: a real-time application to COVID-19∗

Working paper #830
Victor Couture, Jonathan I. Dingel, Allison Green, Jessie Handbury, Kevin R. Williams

Abstract 

Tracking human activity in real time and at fine spatial scale is partic- ularly valuable during episodes such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper, we discuss the suitability of smartphone data for quantifying move- ment and social contact. We show that these data cover broad sections of the US population and exhibit movement patterns similar to conventional survey data. We develop and make publicly available a location exposure index that summarizes county-to-county movements and a device exposure index that quantifies social contact within venues. We use these indices to document how pandemic-induced reductions in activity vary across people and places. 

Download full paper · 2MB PDF


In This Section
Explore Topics

Affordable Housing Architecture Asia Borrowing Constraints Canada China Colombia Commercial Brokerage covid-19 CRE Credit Risk Transfers Debt Market Demographics Development e-Commerce Equity Market Ethnic Factors Europe Foreclosures Global Global Financial Crisis hospitality Housing & Residential Housing Supply India inflation Investing land use regulation Macroeconomics Microeconomics Mixed-Use Mobility Mortgage Rates Mortgages Multi-family Non-Traditional Mortgages office sector Political Risk Real Estate Investment Trusts Recession Rental Retail South America Sub-Prime Mortgages Sustainability United States Urban Urbanization work from home

arrow_drop_up