I was amazed when Volunteered/Contributed Geographic Information (VGI) was covered in class. I had no idea that the GPS apps in Smart phones and laptops could be used in such a way. I was aware that when the location function in my phone is enabled social media companies such as Google can track my movements and possibly use the information to generate a profit. Also, the location function can be used to locate my phone if it is lost. But I had no idea that Smart phones were been used to generate a map of the world!
OpenStreetMaps (OSM) is a prominent example of VGI. It is a collaborative project to create a free, editable map of the world based on the input of ordinary people who use GPS devices like Smart phones or mobile computers to upload geographic information such as roads and buildings. It has 6,141 173 users as of Feb 26, 2020.[1] Just as contributors to Wikipedia add text and images to its website, OSM accepts input from anybody with a GPS device and the desire to help create the map. OSM is used by ordinary people and by notable services such as Apple, Facebook, MapQuest, Craigslist and Flickr.[2]
It is interesting that not all countries see OSM in a favourable light. For instance, all private surveying and mapping activities are illegal in China since 2002.[3] When I lived in China in 2005 and 2006, maps were completely unavailable. I was approached several times in Harbin by Russians offering to sell me maps of China, but the maps were in Russian. I used a Garmin handheld GPS device but there were no maps available on it. But as long as the Garmin was “On” it recorded tracks and waymarks so that I could go driving in the country without risking getting lost and not being able to find my way back at the end of the day. I could have been a contributor to OSM by uploading these tracks but that would have been illegal. Just using a Garmin was probably illegal as well. It is interesting that, because Macau and Hong Kong do not have to follow the same laws as Mainland China, there is a disconnect between these 2 Special Autonomous Regions (SARs) and the rest of China such that roads and rail lines that interconnect the SAR’s to China do not line up.
What motivates people to contribute their time and effort to OSM when there is little financial gain for them in doing so? Contributors may also be users of the information they and others contribute, especially if the final product does not exist elsewhere. They are both producers and users (produsers) of geospatial data. Contributing is also fun and trendy. Contributions can be made for altruistic or humanitarian reasons. Vandals and criminals could also contribute data for malicious or criminal reasons.[4]
The Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS), a part of the US Geological Survey considers that VGI “offers possibilities for government agencies at all levels to enhance their geospatial databases.”[5] VGI is the source of information that may not be available on ordinary maps because the contributors have unique local knowledge. Reliability and accuracy of VGI may be a concern but it seems that there is a place for it in larger geospatial systems.
VGI also has potential in the crisis domain field, not only for assessing the effects after the fact of natural hazard events such as earthquakes, fires, floods and storms, but also for assisting with emergency management during the events.
Other examples of internet services that use geo-referenced data are Twitter, for textual information, and Instagram, for photo or video information. Twitter is an example of VGI which may be very timely in that geo-tagged Tweets immediately following such events as earthquakes may provide rapid severity and extent information.
I own a small digital camera (Canon PowerShot D30) that has a built-in GPS function. It will tag the photos and videos with longitude, altitude and elevation information if the GPS function has been enabled. It uses the same GPS satellites that a Smart phone uses.
I know the above is not an exhaustive coverage of VGI but it does provide an indication of its potential as a source of unique local information that enhances existing geospatial information and may assist in the analysis and management of natural hazard events.
[1]https://www.openstreetmap.org/stats/data_stats.html, accessed February 26, 2020
[2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenStreetMap, accessed February 26, 2020
[3]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restrictions_on_geographic_data_in_China, accessed February 26, 2020
[4] Genovese, E., & Roche, S. (2010). Potential for VGI as a Resource for SDI in the North/South Context 64(4), 439-450.
[5] https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/ngp/cegis/vgi/, accessed February 28, 2020
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