Privacy policy in MobilitApp

MobilitApp is being developed by researchers and students of the Mobilytics and  COMPROMISE projects, at the Dept. of Networking Engineering of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) with the supervision of prof. Mónica Aguilar Igartua.

This privacy policy has been implemented to better serve people who are concerned about how their 'Personally Identifiable Information' (PII) is used online. PII is information that can be used alone or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single individual, or to identify an individual in context. Please read our privacy policy carefully to clearly understand how we collect, use, protect or manage your PII in accordance with our application.

What personal information do we collect from the people that download the MobilitApp?

When installing our app, you are asked to enter your age range and gender, which are used for statistical analysis. We also use data from mobile phone sensors (accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope) to develop our machine learning algorithm to predict the mode of transport used. We also collect GPS geolocation when a change in means of transport is detected, in order to characterize the multimodal journey. We do not read the user's identity, we do not access any personal data or other stored files. The data collected is completely anonymous.

When do we collect information?

We collect user information when our application is installed (age range and gender) and when it is used (mobile phone sensors). This information is treated anonymously, our application is designed to improve mobility in Barcelona and we will never access your PII to find out who you are or give it to third parties.

How do we use your information?

We will use the anonymous information (accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope) that we collect from the mobile when it is registered to improve our algorithm detector to predict the mode of transport used. Our aim is to help the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM) to improve the public transport service in Barcelona and improve urban mobility by promoting the use of sustainable mobility. The data collected is sent encrypted to our managed and well-secured server at UPC, and we do not share it with anyone else (not even with ATM). With ATM we only share general reports with already processed information derived from analyzing data related to multimodal trips, such as mobility statistics disaggregated by means of transportation, by gender, by age range, among other measures of interest.

How do we protect your information?

We use a regular malware scan. Your information is contained behind secure networks and is accessible only to a limited number of people who have special access rights to these systems and are required to keep the information confidential. In addition, all confidential information you provide is encrypted using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and Secure SHell (SSH) technology. We implement a variety of security measures when a user enters, submits or accesses your information to maintain the security of your information.

Do we use 'cookies'?

We do not use cookies for tracking purposes. You can choose to have your computer notify you each time a cookie is sent, or you can choose to disable all cookies. It does this through your browser settings. Since every browser is different, check your browser's help menu for the correct way to modify your cookies. If you disable cookies, some features that make your site experience more efficient will be disabled and may not work properly.

Third-party disclosure

We do not sell, trade or otherwise transfer to third parties information collected from mobile sensors nor from the multimodal trips,  unless we provide users with prior notice. We may also disclose information when appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect our or others' rights, property, or safety. However, non-personally identifying information may be provided to other parties for disclosure, research or other uses.

Modifications in MobilitApp during the Mobility Data Collection Campaign at the UPC

From April 15th to April 19th, 2024, we will modify MobilitApp for a Mobility Data Campaign aimed at analyzing the mobility habits of the UPC community and promoting sustainable transportation. To encourage participation from the UPC community, we will be hosting a lottery with gifts as incentives. For this reason, we will be collecting additional information about user profiles (e.g., student, profesor or administrative staff) and campus for statistical purposes only. Additionally, users who wish to participate in the lottery must provide their UPC email address to be contacted in case they win a prize. Rest assured that the email provided will not be used for any other purpose. After the conclusion of the campaign, the MobilitApp available will revert to its usual version, eliminating the modifications described in this section.

Contact
If you have any questions about this privacy policy, you can contact us using the information below.
Website: MobilitApp
E-mail: monica.aguilar@upc.edu
Universitat Politecnica Catalunya
Jordi Girona, 1-3, Barcelona 08034

Last Edited on: 06-April-2024