They don't. There seems to be some confusion about how Strava works in this thread. People turn it on to track physical activity (i.e. exercise). Nobody is tracking their "military activity." They're turning Strava on when they go for a jog around the base. And then they stop it when their run is finished. If enough people on the base do this, then common routes will stand out on the aggregate map.
Nobody on a smuggling operation would have Strava turned on. That makes no sense.
that was my assumption as well, but examining the heat map data leads me to believe that certain always on devices are contributing data, are fit-bits constantly supplying coordinates? for instance, zoom in on the white house lawn. also look at the tracks between ascension island and Saint Helena in the Atlantic, it sure looks like cruising sailors are leaving tracks as they transit ports. I found others that clearly looked like people in tropical harbors near resorts zooming back and forth on what maybe are jet skis. that type of activity doesn't mesh with how I understand and use Strava, when I switch it on just for a run or cycle and then off after being done. I think there's some source of always on data being placed onto the heat map.
