Using Sensors for Cellular Population Modeling

A technology being developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory could be a valuable tool for urban planning, emergency management and understanding where people are and how they move. Researchers are developing a wireless sensor network that uses signals from cell towers to examine population density in real time, which is important to understand accessibility and livability in urban areas.
 
“Our system works by passively capturing cell tower signals with a radio frequency antenna tuned to specific frequency bands,” said ORNL’s Teja Kuruganti, one of the developers. Researchers expect this technology to be useful for LandScan and other population databases.