New York City is testing a new application to analyze video streams of city streets to glean data about pedestrian traffic patterns, according to GCN.

City planning officials say that data illustrating the flow of people can offer several advantages, from helping small businesses scout new locations to enabling the sanitation department to anticipate demand for trash pick-ups, the article reports.

The city currently uses the pedestrian traffic data primarily to aid people interested in opening small businesses to determine the most promising locations.

Consumers can even use the data to device when it is the best time to go to a store or buy Broadway show tickets. The tool could also be used to track the impact of changes in the city infrastructure on pedestrians.