A computer-implemented method comprising: processing probe data, including a timestamp sorted list of vehicle path probe points for each of a plurality of vehicles, to determine characteristics of a forward forming shockwave associated with a congestion front of a mobile roadwork zone by: applying an algorithm for detecting a forward forming shockwave event to each of the plurality of timestamped sorted lists, the algorithm comprising tracing the speeds of pairs of probe points of the sorted list to record a forward forming shockwave event in response to (i) a first probe point of a given pair having at most a predetermined maximum speed, (ii) the other probe point of the given pair having at least a predetermined minimum speed, and (iii) the time by which the two probe points of the given pair are separated being under a predetermined minimum time, the recorded forward forming shockwave events having corresponding timestamps and location information; plotting the recorded forward forming shockwave events as points in a distance-time diagram; separating the points on the distance-time diagram into a distance-increasing group and a distance-decreasing group, wherein a distance value increases or decreases with time, in the diagram, for the distance-increasing group or the distance-decreasing group, respectively; and performing linear regression for each of the distance-increasing group and distance-decreasing group to determine, respectively, a forward forming shockwave speed and a backward recovery speed; and providing, as an output, data indicating location, expected duration and/or severity of roadwork activity of the mobile roadwork zone based on the determined characteristics of the forward forming shockwave. processing probe data, including a timestamp sorted list of vehicle path probe points for each of a plurality of vehicles, to determine characteristics of a forward forming shockwave associated with a congestion front of a mobile roadwork zone by: applying an algorithm for detecting a forward forming shockwave event to each of the plurality of timestamped sorted lists, the algorithm comprising tracing the speeds of pairs of probe points of the sorted list to record a forward forming shockwave event in response to (i) a first probe point of a given pair having at most a predetermined maximum speed, (ii) the other probe point of the given pair having at least a predetermined minimum speed, and (iii) the time by which the two probe points of the given pair are separated being under a predetermined minimum time, the recorded forward forming shockwave events having corresponding timestamps and location information; plotting the recorded forward forming shockwave events as points in a distance-time diagram; separating the points on the distance-time diagram into a distance-increasing group and a distance-decreasing group, wherein a distance value increases or decreases with time, in the diagram, for the distance-increasing group or the distance-decreasing group, respectively; and performing linear regression for each of the distance-increasing group and distance-decreasing group to determine, respectively, a forward forming shockwave speed and a backward recovery speed; and applying an algorithm for detecting a forward forming shockwave event to each of the plurality of timestamped sorted lists, the algorithm comprising tracing the speeds of pairs of probe points of the sorted list to record a forward forming shockwave event in response to (i) a first probe point of a given pair having at most a predetermined maximum speed, (ii) the other probe point of the given pair having at least a predetermined minimum speed, and (iii) the time by which the two probe points of the given pair are separated being under a predetermined minimum time, the recorded forward forming shockwave events having corresponding timestamps and location information; plotting the recorded forward forming shockwave events as points in a distance-time diagram; separating the points on the distance-time diagram into a distance-increasing group and a distance-decreasing group, wherein a distance value increases or decreases with time, in the diagram, for the distance-increasing group or the distance-decreasing group, respectively; and performing linear regression for each of the distance-increasing group and distance-decreasing group to determine, respectively, a forward forming shockwave speed and a backward recovery speed; and providing, as an output, data indicating location, expected duration and/or severity of roadwork activity of the mobile roadwork zone based on the determined characteristics of the forward forming shockwave.