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A British Library / Klokan Technologies partnership

Crowdsourcing map data

Kimberly C. Kowal, Lead Curator Digital Mapping, The British Library

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Quick Facts

• 725 maps assigned spatial metadata

• 13-18 February 2012

• 90 participants

• Publicity minimal – social media *key*

• Top five participants completed half the work

• Data quality good: <3% had errors >.005

3Ordnance Surveyors Drawing 40(detail). British Library, Maps OSD 40(3).

What is georeferencing?

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Ordnance Survey drawings

Original large-scale drawings made for the famous one-inch-to-the-mile maps. England and Wales, 1780-1840.

Part of Staffordshire Containing 100 Square Miles Surveyed by Mr Field and Drawn by Mr Stevens (detail). Pen and ink on paper. 1817. British Library shelfmark: OSD 210.

Crace Collection of maps of London

BAYNARDS CASTLE AND FARINGDON WARD WITHIN with their Divisions into Parishes according to a new SURVEY. (detail). Cole, B. engraver. 1754.

British Library shelfmark: Maps Crace VIII.25

Illustrating development of the city and its immediate vicinity from ca 1570 - 1860

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http://maps.bl.uk

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http://maps.bl.uk

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Competitive Crowdsourcing

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Remaining…

• Correcting errors

• Data management

• Engaging participants: thanking / feedback

• Preparations for next lot of maps – within the next month!

• Continued improvements to application

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(20 maps)

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What made it work…

Content relevant

Accessibility and convenience of application paramount

Activity engaging

Immediate results and feedback

Competitive crowdsourcing tools

Recognition and visible overall contribution