Evaluating Internet-based public participation GIS (PPGIS) and volunteered geographic information (VGI) in environmental planning and management

Abstract

An Internet-based public participation geographic information system (PPGIS) is an affordable and accessible tool for citizens to provide location-based volunteered geographic information (VGI) in environmental planning and management. Based on a conceptual model, this study uses the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis methodology to qualitatively evaluate user, information, and site use of six cases with Internet-based PPGIS. This study reviews each case's website to collect descriptive data for the case analysis. The results of this study show that user numbers do not have a significantly strong relationship with data submission numbers, since active users had the highest number of contributions. The most urgent task of using Internet-based PPGIS to attract citizen scientists is to invite and retain long-term and active contributors, and to change interested users into long-term active contributors.

Keywords:

• Internet-based public participation GIS (PPGIS)
• volunteered geographic information (VGI)
• environmental management
• citizen science
• SWOT analysis

Acknowledgements

We appreciate the constructive comments and valuable suggestions from the reviewers.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This paper has been funded wholly or partially by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under an assistance agreements (CD-977422010). The contents do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the EPA, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.