This unique book demonstrates the utility of big data approaches in human geography and planning. Offering a carefully curated selection of case studies, it reveals how researchers are accessing big data, what this data looks like and how such data can offer new and important insights and knowledge.

Contents: 1 Introduction to Big Data Applications in Geography and Planning 1 Mark Birkin, Graham Clarke, Jonathan Corcoran and Robert Stimson 2 Using social media advertising data to estimate migration trends over time 8 Monica Alexander 3 Estimating household mobility using novel big data 25 Nik Lomax 4 Using linked consumer and administrative data to model demographic changes in London’s city fringe 43 Justin van Dijk, Guy Lansley and Paul Longley 5 Combining large linked social service microdata and geospatial data to identify vulnerable populations in New Zealand 52 Lukas Marek, James Greenwell, Matthew Hobbs, John McCarthy, Jesse Wiki, Malcolm Campbell, Simon Kingham and Melanie Tomintz 6 The changing geography of clinical misery in England: lessons in spatio-temporal data analysis 64 Alexis Comber, Chris Brunsdon, Martin Charlton and John Cromby 7 Utilising smartphone data to explore spatial influences on physical activity 78 Francesca Pontin 8 Spatial extent and classification of retail agglomerations 92 Les Dolega 9 Applications of store loyalty card big data in the location planning process 106 Nick Hood, Graham Clarke, Andy Newing and Tim Rains 10 Online content of local interest and how it attracts individuals online 120 Emmanouil Tranos and Christoph Stich 11 Smart cities, big data: an overview 143 Robert Stimson and Chris Pettit 12 Is Sydney a 30-minute city? Big data analytics assisting to bring political rhetoric into practice 168 Simone Leao, Mohammad Hassan, Taha Rashidi and Chris Pettit 13 Data and public participation in national strategic planning 188 Eliahu Stern, Sheizaf Rafaeli and Arza Churchman 14 Goldmine or minefield? The methodological challenges associated with the analysis of the FixMyStreet neighbourhood problems dataset 205 Alasdair Rae and Elvis Nyanzu 15 Big data applications in urban transport research in Chinese cities: an overview 219 Sui Tao, Min Zhang and Jiangyue Wu 16 Unpacking the weather–transit ridership relationship using big data in Brisbane and beyond 244 Ming Wei, Yan Liu, Thomas Sigler and Jonathan Corcoran 17 Spatial microsimulation models for rail travel: a West Yorkshire case study 255 Eusebio Odiari, Mark Birkin, Susan Grant-Muller and Nick Malleson Index

‘This is a very timely book featuring a collection of contributions from some of the world’s leading scholars working in the equivalent of social science’s ‘‘Wild West‘‘ - the world of Big Data. This book is indeed an essential companion for anyone wishing to understand the breadth of opportunities and challenges presented by data which lie outside of the traditional official statistics disseminated by governments. It will provide inspiration for those willing to take themselves out of their comfort zone and a glimpse of what is possible.‘