A framework for user-generated geographic content acquisition in an age of crowdsourcing

ABSTRACT

Obtaining useful geographic information from the flood of user-generated geographic content (UGGC) data is of significant interest, but comes with challenges in an age of crowdsourcing. To address this issue, we adopt Maslow’s model of human needs to frame UGGC. Synthesizing across literature about volunteered geographic information and participatory GIS, we present a conceptual framework for characterizing collection of UGGC. The framework is composed of multiple dimensions and levels that include perspectives about motivations, participatory methods, and participants. We also articulate four levels of participants (stakeholders, core-engaged participants, semi-core-engaged participants, and engaged citizens) together with four work principles (communication, cooperation, coordination, and collaboration). Finally, a case study describes an example we use to evaluate the conceptual framework for its suitability in design of a UGGC system. We conclude by reflecting on how and why this framework offers a valuable perspective for deriving useful geographic information and offer future research directions.

KEYWORDS:

• User-generated geographic content
• participatory GIS
• volunteered geographic information
• geographic information acquisition
• citizen science

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by grants from the Open Research Fund Program of Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Spatial Smart Sensing and Services (Shenzhen University) [Grant No. 201404], Jiangsu Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation Science Research Project [Grant No. JSCHKY201506], National Science Foundation, Office of Cyberinfrastructure, Software Institutes, Cross-Directorate Active Programs, Geography and Spatial Sciences, and Method, Measure & Statistics Programs [Grant No. OCI-1047916], National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant No.40901272], and National Key Technology R&D Program of China [Grant No. 2012BAK15B06].