Real-Time Mapping of Mobility Restrictions in Palestine Using Crowdsourced Data

This study introduces the service of real-time mapping of mobility restrictions RT-MMR using crowdsourced data to improve people’s mobility in Palestine. The service is part of the Smart and Resilient Mobility Services (SRMS) platform, a mobile web app that provides real-time road information and mobility services in areas with frequent road restrictions. The literature review highlights the adverse effects of mobility restrictions on the Palestinian population's daily life, employment opportunities, and the environment. It also notes the lack of research exploring strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of mobility restrictions, largely due to the difficulty in accessing real-time and historical data on the behavior and functionality of these restrictions. The research argues that common commercial apps such as Waze and Google Map are not effective solutions due to their limited coverage and inaccuracies in accounting for mobility restrictions. To address these challenges, the paper proposes the RT-MMR service, which uses ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Survey123 to provide real-time and accurate information on mobility restrictions. The service aims to help interurban travelers make informed decisions and optimize their travel to reduce delays, congestion, time losses, and energy consumption. The paper also introduces the Restriction Notification System (RNS), which will notify users in real-time of any updates in specific restrictions, further improving the service's efficiency.