Big data key to improving traffic flow, say officials

Big data is becoming a big deal when it comes to city traffic planning.

In April, Toronto Mayor John Tory announced a specialized team to analyze the movement of traffic to help alleviate his city's ongoing gridlock problem.

Traffic planners will look at data collected from GPS signatures pulled from smartphones and other electronic devices to figure out how traffic moves around Toronto.

Other cities such as Amsterdam, Stockholm and Barcelona are already using big data to help ease congestion on their streets, and Tory said Toronto is eager to join the ranks of what he calls 'Smart' cities.

Out West, Calgary has been using data to analyze traffic habits for the past four years.