Continuing the publication online via Issuu of our papers we include our recent paper written with Andrew Crooks, Michael Batty, and Richard Milton from CASA entitled "Mapping for the Masses Accessing Web 2.0 Through Crowdsourcing" as published in Social Science Computer Review."The authors describe how we are harnessing the power of web 2.0 technologies to create new approaches to collecting, mapping, and sharing geocoded data. The authors begin with GMapCreator that lets users fashion new maps using Google Maps as a base. Click the right arrow to turn the page:
The authors then describe MapTube that enables users to archive maps and demonstrate how it can be used in a variety of contexts to share map information, to put existing maps into a form that can be shared, and to create new maps from the bottom-up using a combination of crowdcasting, crowdsourcing, and traditional broadcasting. The authors conclude by arguing that such tools are helping to define a neogeography that is essentially ‘‘mapping for the masses,’’ while noting that there are many issues of quality, accuracy, copyright, and trust that will influence the impact of these tools on map-based communication."
The authors then describe MapTube that enables users to archive maps and demonstrate how it can be used in a variety of contexts to share map information, to put existing maps into a form that can be shared, and to create new maps from the bottom-up using a combination of crowdcasting, crowdsourcing, and traditional broadcasting. The authors conclude by arguing that such tools are helping to define a neogeography that is essentially ‘‘mapping for the masses,’’ while noting that there are many issues of quality, accuracy, copyright, and trust that will influence the impact of these tools on map-based communication."
Keywords: network economies; neogeography; web-based services; map mashups; crowdsourcing; crowdcasting; online GIS.
The paper can be downloaded from here (pdf link).
This is a really interesting development that I had not heard about before. I played around a bit with MapTube and am quite impressed.
ReplyDeleteI am a landscape architect that finds myself engaged more often than not with large scale community planning activities (master planning, neighborhood planning, green infrastructure, etc...). We've always wanted to "open up" the GIS/mapping activities to the communities that we work with, but unfortunetly the technical/cost requirements for making online mappers and other tools is prohibitive.
I'll definetly be exploring these tools more, although I do have a question as well. Google's "My Maps" allows users to add point/line data to maps. It sounds like this data can be pulled into MapTube and overlaid with a broader set of data. Is this correct? Also, does map tube ever intend to support a "querry" tool that would let users click on an area/feature to see more detailed information about it?
If the interactivity opportunities can be incorporated with information sharing, then magic is happening! Thanks!