Using mobile social media and GIS in health and place research

Abstract

This paper presents new research methods that combine the use of location-based social media on mobile phones with geographic information systems (GIS) to explore connections between people, place, and health. It discusses the feasibility, limitations, and benefits of using these methods, which enable real-time, location-based, quantitative data to be collected on the recreation, consumption, and physical activity patterns of urban residents in the city of Brisbane, Australia. The study employs mechanisms already inherent in popular mobile social media applications (Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare) to collect these data. The research methods presented in this paper are innovative and potentially applicable to an increasing number of academic research areas, as well as to a growing range of service providers that benefit from monitoring consumer behaviour and responding to emerging changes in these patterns and trends. The ability to both collect and map objective, real-time data about the consumption, leisure, recreation, and physical activity patterns amongst urban communities has direct implications for a range of research disciplines including media studies, advertising, health promotion, social marketing, public health inequalities, and urban design.