Future of Geospatial Use & It's Changing Role in Citizen Engagement

Maps

Maps govern our understanding of the world in which we live

BUT this does not always mean they do this fairly.

As we have seen largely maps usage is defined by those with the tools to use them.

What are Maps for?

Maps are directive: they tell us where to go and how to get there

Maps are informative: Landmarks tell us what we may find in an area

Maps are aesthetic: they are a form of art used to express issues of perspective and presentation

Current approaches to mapping Used to view and analyze information

within a geographic perspective.

Overlay data Perform spatial analysis Zoom into areas of interest

Benefits

Well the layering of data allows for the easier management of data. (turn on/turn off data)

It's extremely accurate and so is the data that is viewed in a traditional GIS

Deltas

Largely the process for making a map is quite different from that of what we might have a mental model of.

Example: Traynor and Williams “Why is GIS so hard to use?” CHI '95

User Centered Mapping

Is the organization and utilization of of spatial data around the user's own spatial landscape.

Essentially we are seeing the integeration of PPGIS on the Internet as mashups

Map 2.0 Approach

Hockenberry er al. define this as the emergency of the API based web mapping applications that enables people to build their own maps.

These applications move away from the traditional application of web-gis that is more generalized.

http://www.cityoforlando.net/gis/interactive_mapping.htm

http://www.gosee.ca/computerstores/

Map 2.0 Approach

What this does is make the data relevant to the user.

Something that lacked in previous Web-GIS models built from desktop GIS applications.

Map 2.0 Approach

Similar to what we saw in O'Reilly's reading we see the exchange

Maps as a service as opposed to a package.

Architecture of Participation

Age of the Amateur

What does the future hold?

Tagging vs Attributes

User generated content

Ubiquitous technology and ubiquitous GIS

Neogeography

Geographical techniques and tools used for personal activities or for utilization by a non-expert group of users; not formal or analytical in nature.

It all about the user

New data formats

Allows users to create data that easily integrates with richer formats of information

This will create a Geoweb where geographic information is tied to abstract information - Geobrowsers

People can then search for things based on location instead of only keywords eg http://nearbynow.com/

Collaborative Mapping

A diverse commons of mapping data constantly updated by citizens, governments and the private sector

Data creation is following in the foot steps of Wikipedia and other social applications

Collaborative Mapping

Open Street Map - started in 2004, amateurs (in the best sense of the word), hobbyists and 'true believers'

'The Success of Collaborative Mapping?' - a diverse commons of mapping data constantly updated by citizens, governments and the private sector

Ubiquitous Computing

As phones get smarter Android iPhone

Geospatial information becomes more important - searching by location is more valid

It also becomes easier to create Geospatial data

What about Citizen Engagement? Traditionally, GIS is implemented as a

tool for community involvement but it's application is largely derived by those experts building the application.

Largely the user is seen as a commodity to enrich the application with their data.

Citizen Engagement

Now it's becoming the role of citizen to not only participate but create the applications.

More and more the tools once held exclusive to the experts are being given to the user themselves.

What does this mean for the future?

What does the future hold?

More collaborative mapping

Data that is more relevant on a temporal level

Data that is more relevant on a location based level

Greater availability of spatial data in interoperable standards.