Where does speed / travel time data come from?
The data comes from TomTom’s huge “historical” database. It is obtained through a dashboard provided by TomTom. Access to the dashboard is only available under a licencing agreement signed and paid for by a licence holder. TCi has a licence.
If you are interested in having your own licence then TCi will be happy to help you organise that with TomTom.
How long does it take to get the information?
We aim to provide the information within 1 week of request. But please ask – we will work to your (shorter or longer) time-frame if we can.
What format will the data come in? Can I nominate which format?
We ‘routinely’ produce Excel files. But please tell us what you want – we will do our best to provide the format that you want.
What information do I need to provide?
You need to tell us the location, date range and time-slices that interest you. This information forms a ‘query‘.
What is a ‘query’?
We use a query to interrogate the TomTom database for traffic speed and travel time. TomTom has rules around what a query can look like. Those rules are:
(1) Location : up to 75 km of interconnected road, which will be reported segment-by-segment
(2) Time : selected dates (starting before 2010) + up to 24 periods of the day (as small as 15 min)
What is a ‘probe’?
‘Probe’ is the name given to a single device that provides data (also know as Floating Car Data (FCD)). More probes means a better estimate of traffic speed / travel time.
What is a ‘segment’ (also called a ‘road segment’)?
A segment is a ‘piece’ of road, no less than 1 lane wide, along which vehicles travel. The length and location of the segment has been chosen and mapped by TomTom. The road / route that you select is made up of many segments.
How can the information be used?
The traffic speed, travel time, traffic volume and ‘cost’ of congestion can be used for:
- Network Management – know, from the data, where problems exist or are developing
- Speed surveys – look at the average speed + the speed distribution … at any combination of dates and times
- Preparing a Business Case – use data to show the road authority and/or government where and how bad the issues are
- Design – be able to ‘see’ the problems and develop design solutions in context
- Engaging Consultants & Contractors – provide them with data and see exactly what they see
- Construction – see, understand and manage construction impacts
- Review / Audit – monitor and report on the difference that your project has made
Can I use a map?
Please do. Each segment is location-referenced so you can map part or all of the route. We can provide the location references but you will need to use your own mapping software.