Abstract
Volunteered geographic information (VGI) is geographic information collected by way of crowdsourcing. However, the distinction between VGI as an information product and the processes that create VGI is blurred. Clearly, the environment that influences the creation of VGI is different than the information product itself, yet most literature treats them as one and the same. Thus, this research is motivated by the need to formalize and standardize the systems that support the creation of VGI. To this end, we propose a conceptual framework for VGI systems, the main components of which—project, participants, and technical infrastructure—form an environment conducive to the creation of VGI. Drawing on examples from OpenStreetMap, Ushahidi, and RinkWatch, we illustrate the pragmatic relevance of these components. Applying a system perspective to VGI allows us to better understand the components and functionality needed to effectively create VGI.
Highlights
The geospatial Web 2.0, or Geoweb for short, is a collection of online location-enabled services and infrastructure that is engaging a wide range of stakeholders in mapping processes
Haklay et al [1] further noted that the process by which the data are collected—including organizational practices, regulatory issues, and technical specifications—is more likely to impede the acceptance of volunteered geographic information (VGI) than the early concerns associated with quality, accuracy, and completeness of VGI
This raises the question: what are the organizational practices, regulatory issues, and technical specifications that support the production of VGI? Essentially, what systems support the creation of VGI?
Summary
The geospatial Web 2.0, or Geoweb for short, is a collection of online location-enabled services and infrastructure that is engaging a wide range of stakeholders in mapping processes. “VGI is crowdsourced geographic information provided by a wide range of participants with varying levels of education, knowledge, and skills” [1]. This type of geographic information, or geo-information, derived from the public through active or passive mechanisms is part of the larger phenomenon of user generated or crowdsourced content [2], and is producing novel, and often valuable, sources of geo-information [3,4]. This raises the question: what are the organizational practices, regulatory issues, and technical specifications that support the production of VGI? Essentially, what systems support the creation of VGI?
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