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Tommy Cooke, Visiting Professor, Department of Geography & Environmental Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Satellite data: The other type of smartphone data you might not know about

SSHRC
Satellite data isn't collected and treated the same way location data are. (Shutterstock)

When you think about location data on your mobile phone, tablet or laptop, what comes to mind? Mailing addresses? Postal codes? These data indicate where you live, where you work, and the places you visit.

When combined with other types of data over time, companies and governments use them to analyze your consumption patterns, occupation, education, health and financial status.

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