The web tool, called Openpaths, hopes to garner users’ location data—with their consent—so they can explore where they've been with their iPhone, using the tool's web-based map interface.
In addition, Openpaths hopes to share the data with researchers in the public, private, commercial, academic or artistic fields.
“[Research] requests typically look at specific geographic areas or demographic information about their subjects, so research requests include these criteria,” Openpaths wrote on its website. “Based on this information, users receive monthly updates that list the projects where their data is a good fit, and are offered the opportunity to donate their data.”
Some common projects researchers will find the data useful include disaster preparedness, traffic flow and urban planning, according to Openpaths.
To participate in the project, iPhone users have to first sign up at Openpaths before contributing to the database.
“In return, we ask researchers to provide a small benefit to their data donors,” Openpaths said. “This might be a custom visualization of a donor’s location information, access to the results of the research, or other related benefits.”
[via Openpaths]
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