Mobility deviation index: incorporating geographical context into analysis of human mobility

Many studies seek to study the relationship between socioeconomic factors and human mobility indicators. However, it is well documented that mobility levels are also driven by the geographical context where individual movement takes place. Here we test whether accounting for geographical context leads to new or different interpretations of human mobility behavior when studying associations with socioeconomic factors. Specifically, we define mobility deviation index as the relative level of observed mobility when compared to expected mobility for a specific location, where expected mobility accounts for geographical context. Our results highlight the significant role of context when interpreting spatial patterns of human mobility. We demonstrate that controlling for the effects of geographical context will substantially impact our interpretation of associations between measures of human mobility and socioeconomic variables. These results represent an important step in furthering our understanding of the role of place on human mobility patterns.