Application of Mobile Operators’ Data in Modern Geographical Research

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In table 2, please reduce the number of decimal places displayed. For example, in the first line, where you see "167,04025", change to "167 GB" or just "167". Also, align all number cells to the right.

 

Additionally, in table 2, why did you cite SQL databases? Non-structured real-time data can be better handled using No-SQL technologies, such as MongoDB. Indeed, you included a little statement in line 162, citing technologies that could be used; however, I think you could improve this discussion in the paper. Could you write more about the technologies used to store and manipulate huge data quantity?

 

Figure 3 (line 190) has many texts, making it very hard to understand. 

 

It is really interesting the section you cited about using these data to evaluate the use of preventing traffic jams, improving population mobility, and building transport models. In addition, I think it would be worth mentioning technologies used by modern big techs, such as Google, which can use geographical data to assess whether a certain commercial place is full or not.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The article gives definition instead of abstract at opening, which is not common. Abstract should be drafted to summarize the study.

The title indicates one or more application of the big data to geographical research. Given the presentation of the Moscow region data, it's expected to see its application but none was presented.  In addition the data is presented in inconsistent format, and no meaningful statistics is shown.

Overall, the paper lacks an concrete study of mobile data to geographical problem.

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

1) What are the main challenges while handling mobile operators' data? What about data theft? What measures are taken to avoid the security risks of individuals, especially in the case of individual localization? (Shouldn't I be worried for my security if someone can easily find my house location through demographic statistics?) Do provide some discussion about this in the article.

2) What impact does user mobility have? Is the data collection cost always affordable? 

3) Recently there is also a growing interest in small data, especially in the mobile communication domains. Such data (distributed over a geographic area) can effectively be used through several distributed learning techniques to perform various optimization tasks. Do compare such small data-based systems with the present work. For example,

1)Distributed Learning in Wireless Networks: Recent Progress and Future Challenges

2) Federated Learning for 6G: Applications, Challenges, and Opportunities

3) Overview of Distributed Machine Learning Techniques for 6G Networks

4) Collaborative Reinforcement Learning for Multi-Service Internet of Vehicles

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Figure 4 is in low resolution and is positioned horizontally, which makes it very difficult to read. Please correct this before publishing.

 

Note that it is not enough to "enlarge" the picture to improve the resolution (because this makes the image blurry). Take a look at this article: https://support.google.com/photos/thread/21196444/what-is-low-resolution-what-details-do-i-look-for-to-be-high-definition?hl=en

Author Response

Уважаемый Рецензент!

Большое спасибо за эту ценную рекомендацию!

Мы сделали все возможное, чтобы улучшить качество рис. 4!

Reviewer 2 Report

accept in present form

Author Response

Dear Reviewer!

Thank you very much for your approval of our manuscript!

Reviewer 3 Report

The authors have addressed my comments. Given the importance of distributed learning techniques and corresponding geographically dispersed mobile users' data, I hope authors continue their work in relevant fields in the future. Thank you.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer! Thank you very much for your approval of our manuscript!

Round 3

Reviewer 1 Report

The image quality has been improved. I think everything is ok!