2017
Ostermann, Frank O.; Granell-Canut, Carlos
Advancing Science with VGI: Reproducibility and Replicability of Recent Studies using VGI Journal Article
In: Transactions in GIS, vol. 20, pp. in press, 2017, ISSN: 1361-1682.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: VGI
@article{Ostermann2017,
title = {Advancing Science with VGI: Reproducibility and Replicability of Recent Studies using VGI},
author = { Frank O. Ostermann and Carlos Granell-Canut},
url = {http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/tgis.12195},
doi = {10.1111/tgis.12195},
issn = {1361-1682},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Transactions in GIS},
volume = {20},
pages = {in press},
abstract = {In scientific research, reproducibility and replicability are requirements to ensure the advancement of our body of knowledge. This holds true also for VGI-related research and studies. However, the characteristics of VGI suggest particular difficulties in ensuring reproducibility and replicability. In this article, we aim to examine the current situation in VGI-related research, and identify strategies to ensure realization of its full potential. To do so, we first investigate the different aspects of reproducibility and replicability and their impact on VGI-related research. These impacts are different depending on the objectives of the study. Therefore, we examine the study focus of VGI-related research to assess the current body of research and structure our assessment. This work is based on a rigorous review of the elements of reproducibility and a systematic mapping and analysis of 58 papers on the use of VGI in the crisis management field. Results of our investigation show that reproducibility issues related to data are a serious concern, while reproducibility issues related to analysis methods and processes face fewer challenges. However, since most studies still focus on analyzing the source data, reproducibility and replicability are still an unsolved problem in VGI-related research. Therefore, we show initiatives tackling the problem, and finally formulate strategies to improve the situation},
keywords = {VGI},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In scientific research, reproducibility and replicability are requirements to ensure the advancement of our body of knowledge. This holds true also for VGI-related research and studies. However, the characteristics of VGI suggest particular difficulties in ensuring reproducibility and replicability. In this article, we aim to examine the current situation in VGI-related research, and identify strategies to ensure realization of its full potential. To do so, we first investigate the different aspects of reproducibility and replicability and their impact on VGI-related research. These impacts are different depending on the objectives of the study. Therefore, we examine the study focus of VGI-related research to assess the current body of research and structure our assessment. This work is based on a rigorous review of the elements of reproducibility and a systematic mapping and analysis of 58 papers on the use of VGI in the crisis management field. Results of our investigation show that reproducibility issues related to data are a serious concern, while reproducibility issues related to analysis methods and processes face fewer challenges. However, since most studies still focus on analyzing the source data, reproducibility and replicability are still an unsolved problem in VGI-related research. Therefore, we show initiatives tackling the problem, and finally formulate strategies to improve the situation
2016
Granell-Canut, Carlos; Ostermann, Frank O.
Beyond data collection: Objectives and methods of research using VGI and geo-social media for disaster management Journal Article
In: Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, pp. in press, 2016, ISSN: 0198-9715, (IF: 2.659 - 23/105 (Q1) Environmental Studies 2.659 - 13/79 (Q1) Geography ).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: crowdsourcing, data analysis methods, Disaster management, Geo-social media, RyC-Granell, Systematic mapping, VGI
@article{GranellCanut2016a,
title = {Beyond data collection: Objectives and methods of research using VGI and geo-social media for disaster management},
author = { Carlos Granell-Canut and Frank O. Ostermann},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2016.01.006},
doi = {10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2016.01.006},
issn = {0198-9715},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-01-01},
journal = {Computers, Environment and Urban Systems},
pages = {in press},
publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},
abstract = {This paper investigates research using VGI and geo-social media in the disaster management context. Relying on the method of systematic mapping, it develops a classification schema that captures three levels of main category, focus, and intended use, and analyzes the relationships with the employed data sources and analysis methods. It focuses the scope to the pioneering field of disaster management, but the described approach and the developed classification schema are easily adaptable to different application domains or future developments. The results show that a hypothesized consolidation of research, characterized through the building of canonical bodies of knowledge and advanced application cases with refined methodology, has not yet happened. The majority of the studies investigate the challenges and potential solutions of data handling, with fewer studies focusing on socio-technological issues or advanced applications. This trend is currently showing no sign of change, highlighting that VGI research is still very much technology-driven as opposed to theory- or application-driven. From the results of the systematic mapping study, the authors formulate and discuss several research objectives for future work, which could lead to a stronger, more theory-driven treatment of the topic VGI in GIScience.},
note = {IF: 2.659 - 23/105 (Q1) Environmental Studies
2.659 - 13/79 (Q1) Geography
},
keywords = {crowdsourcing, data analysis methods, Disaster management, Geo-social media, RyC-Granell, Systematic mapping, VGI},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This paper investigates research using VGI and geo-social media in the disaster management context. Relying on the method of systematic mapping, it develops a classification schema that captures three levels of main category, focus, and intended use, and analyzes the relationships with the employed data sources and analysis methods. It focuses the scope to the pioneering field of disaster management, but the described approach and the developed classification schema are easily adaptable to different application domains or future developments. The results show that a hypothesized consolidation of research, characterized through the building of canonical bodies of knowledge and advanced application cases with refined methodology, has not yet happened. The majority of the studies investigate the challenges and potential solutions of data handling, with fewer studies focusing on socio-technological issues or advanced applications. This trend is currently showing no sign of change, highlighting that VGI research is still very much technology-driven as opposed to theory- or application-driven. From the results of the systematic mapping study, the authors formulate and discuss several research objectives for future work, which could lead to a stronger, more theory-driven treatment of the topic VGI in GIScience.
2014
García-Martí, Irene; Torres-Sospedra, Joaquín; Rodríguez-Pupo, Luis Enrique
A comparative study on VGI and professional noise data Proceedings Article
In: Huerta-Guijarro, Joaquín; Schade, Sven; Granell-Canut, Carlos (Ed.): Connecting a Digital Europe through Location and Place. Proceedings of the AGILE'2014 International Conference on Geographic Information Science., AGILE Digital Editions, 2014, ISBN: 978-90-816960-4-3.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Citizen Science, crowdsourcing, environmental monitoring, Geographic Information, noise pollution, Smart Cities, VGI
@inproceedings{GarciaMarti2014,
title = {A comparative study on VGI and professional noise data},
author = { Irene García-Martí and Joaquín Torres-Sospedra and Luis Enrique Rodríguez-Pupo},
editor = {Joaquín Huerta-Guijarro and Sven Schade and Carlos Granell-Canut},
url = {http://repositori.uji.es/xmlui/handle/10234/98489},
isbn = {978-90-816960-4-3},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-01-01},
booktitle = {Connecting a Digital Europe through Location and Place. Proceedings of the AGILE'2014 International Conference on Geographic Information Science.},
publisher = {AGILE Digital Editions},
abstract = {The ubiquitous nature of mobile devices and its growing presence in urban areas, turn them up into low cost environmental monitoring platforms. In this field, several authors made different efforts to provide alternatives to Sensor Networks, to assess noise pollution in cities using crowdsourcing techniques. In this sense, citizens might potentially produce large spatio-temporal datasets using their mobile devices to measure noise levels. There are few attempts of assessing the quality of the mobile noise samples on a real scenario and compare them to commercial data to evaluate if they are reliable enough. This contribution reviews the existing applications to collect or assess the quality of noise samples when they are used as sound level meters. Moreover, it presents the results of our experiment: the volunteer noise dataset generated in a ‘mapping party' on our campus is compared to professional data. Results show that VGI data might be sufficient for multiple daily situations.},
keywords = {Citizen Science, crowdsourcing, environmental monitoring, Geographic Information, noise pollution, Smart Cities, VGI},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
The ubiquitous nature of mobile devices and its growing presence in urban areas, turn them up into low cost environmental monitoring platforms. In this field, several authors made different efforts to provide alternatives to Sensor Networks, to assess noise pollution in cities using crowdsourcing techniques. In this sense, citizens might potentially produce large spatio-temporal datasets using their mobile devices to measure noise levels. There are few attempts of assessing the quality of the mobile noise samples on a real scenario and compare them to commercial data to evaluate if they are reliable enough. This contribution reviews the existing applications to collect or assess the quality of noise samples when they are used as sound level meters. Moreover, it presents the results of our experiment: the volunteer noise dataset generated in a ‘mapping party' on our campus is compared to professional data. Results show that VGI data might be sufficient for multiple daily situations.
Sanchis-Huertas, Ana; Díaz-Sánchez, Laura; Gould, Michael; Huerta-Guijarro, Joaquín
Crowd Sourced Public Participation of City Building Book Chapter
In: Lee, Danbi J.; Dias, Eduardo; Scholten, Henk J. (Ed.): Geodesign by Integrating Design and Geospatial Sciences, Chapter 17, pp. 271-283, Springer, Cham, 2014, ISBN: 978-3-319-08298-1.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: citizen participation, crowdsourcing, VGI
@inbook{SanchisHuertas2014,
title = {Crowd Sourced Public Participation of City Building},
author = { Ana Sanchis-Huertas and Laura Díaz-Sánchez and Michael Gould and Joaquín Huerta-Guijarro},
editor = {Danbi J. Lee and Eduardo Dias and Henk J. Scholten},
url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-319-08299-8_17},
doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-08299-8_17},
isbn = {978-3-319-08298-1},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-01-01},
booktitle = {Geodesign by Integrating Design and Geospatial Sciences},
pages = {271-283},
publisher = {Springer},
address = {Cham},
chapter = {17},
keywords = {citizen participation, crowdsourcing, VGI},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
2013
Olivares-Colás, Alberto
Participatory mapping in the design process of a spatial data infrastructure SDI: a case study in the Biosphere Reserve Rio Platano (Honduras) Masters Thesis
Universitat Jaume I, 2013.
BibTeX | Tags: Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI), VGI
@mastersthesis{OlivaresColas2013,
title = {Participatory mapping in the design process of a spatial data infrastructure SDI: a case study in the Biosphere Reserve Rio Platano (Honduras)},
author = { Alberto Olivares-Colás},
editor = {Laura Díaz-Sánchez (supervisor) and Roberto Henriques (co-supervisor) and Joaquín Huerta-Guijarro (co-supervisor)},
year = {2013},
date = {2013-01-01},
school = {Universitat Jaume I},
keywords = {Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI), VGI},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {mastersthesis}
}
Drate, Pamella
Public Participation geographic information systems in developing countries: lessons from Uganda on the impacts of interactive screens PPGIS and community perceptions of space Masters Thesis
Universitat Jaume I, 2013.
BibTeX | Tags: citizen participation, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), VGI
@mastersthesis{Drate2013,
title = {Public Participation geographic information systems in developing countries: lessons from Uganda on the impacts of interactive screens PPGIS and community perceptions of space},
author = { Pamella Drate},
editor = {Marco Painho (supervisor) and Óscar Belmonte-Fernández (co-supervisor) and Christian Kray (co-supervisor)},
year = {2013},
date = {2013-01-01},
school = {Universitat Jaume I},
keywords = {citizen participation, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), VGI},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {mastersthesis}
}
Castellote, Jesús; Huerta-Guijarro, Joaquín; Pescador, Javier; Brown, Michael
Towns Conquer: A Gamified application to collect geographical names (vernacular names/toponyms). Proceedings Article
In: Agile 2013: 16th AGILE Conference on Geographic Information Science, Geographic Information Science at the Heart of Europe. Leuven, 14-17 May 2013, 2013.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Citizen Science, CIUDADES-SALUDABLES, crowdsourcing, Gamification, mobile GIS, VGI
@inproceedings{Castellote2013,
title = {Towns Conquer: A Gamified application to collect geographical names (vernacular names/toponyms).},
author = { Jesús Castellote and Joaquín Huerta-Guijarro and Javier Pescador and Michael Brown},
url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10234/159979},
year = {2013},
date = {2013-01-01},
booktitle = {Agile 2013: 16th AGILE Conference on Geographic Information Science, Geographic Information Science at the Heart of Europe. Leuven, 14-17 May 2013},
abstract = {The traditional model for geospatial crowd sourcing asks the public to use their free time collecting geospatial data for no obvious reward. This model has shown to work very well on projects such as Open Street Map, but comes with some clear disadvantages such as reliance on small communities of ‘Neo-geographers' and variability in quality and content of collected data. This project aims at tackling these problems by providing alternative motivation specifically a smartphone based computer game service. Geographical names (vernacular names/ toponyms) have been identified as potential targets as they are difficult to collect on a large scale and easy to collect locally, thus ideal for crowd sourcing. The data set will be a toponyms database provided by the Spanish National Geographic Institute (IGN Spain). A location based game is targeted as it is easy to guide data collection with in-game rewards (prizes, points, badges etc.). Android is chosen for its accessible API and wide use.},
keywords = {Citizen Science, CIUDADES-SALUDABLES, crowdsourcing, Gamification, mobile GIS, VGI},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
The traditional model for geospatial crowd sourcing asks the public to use their free time collecting geospatial data for no obvious reward. This model has shown to work very well on projects such as Open Street Map, but comes with some clear disadvantages such as reliance on small communities of ‘Neo-geographers' and variability in quality and content of collected data. This project aims at tackling these problems by providing alternative motivation specifically a smartphone based computer game service. Geographical names (vernacular names/ toponyms) have been identified as potential targets as they are difficult to collect on a large scale and easy to collect locally, thus ideal for crowd sourcing. The data set will be a toponyms database provided by the Spanish National Geographic Institute (IGN Spain). A location based game is targeted as it is easy to guide data collection with in-game rewards (prizes, points, badges etc.). Android is chosen for its accessible API and wide use.
2012
Díaz-Sánchez, Laura; Núñez-Redó, Manuela; González, David; Gil-Altaba, José; Aragó-Galindo, Pau; Pultar, Edward; Huerta-Guijarro, Joaquín
Alternative search mechanism for web 2.0 resources Proceedings Article
In: Eurogeoss Conference. Madrid, 25-27 January 2012, Madrid, 2012.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Open Search, VGI, Web 2.0
@inproceedings{DiazSanchez2012d,
title = {Alternative search mechanism for web 2.0 resources},
author = { Laura Díaz-Sánchez and Manuela Núñez-Redó and David González and José Gil-Altaba and Pau Aragó-Galindo and Edward Pultar and Joaquín Huerta-Guijarro},
year = {2012},
date = {2012-01-01},
booktitle = {Eurogeoss Conference. Madrid, 25-27 January 2012},
address = {Madrid},
abstract = {Nowadays we are witnessing how ordinary citizens are willing to share geospatial information using the friendly and easy-to use functionality provided by the web 2.0 platforms. These kind of social networks reflect events with big social impacts as is the case of forest fires, in particular when they occur close to urban areas. In these cases, social networks are invaded with volunteer information, mostly adding some location information, i.e., volunteered geographic information (VGI) sharing information about the forest fire evolution, which describes the forest fire extinction and impact. We discuss, how this information could be useful to complement other official sources with earth observation data and scientific information providing an alternative source. For the time being, in order to discover and access this VGI is necessary to deal with the different search mechanisms provided by the different web 2.0 services. This paper explores how to improve the interoperability of these platforms by providing a single service as a unique entry point with an interface that implements an standard specification: Open Search Geo-Time. This paper proposes the use of OGC Opensearch geospatial and time specification to discover and access information available in different web 2.0 services. As a proof of concept a web client is presented in a forest fire scenario. The intrinsically interoperability of the system is reflected in the collaborations cropped up with different disciplines such as the biodiversity and forestry department of the Joint Research Centre.},
keywords = {Open Search, VGI, Web 2.0},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Nowadays we are witnessing how ordinary citizens are willing to share geospatial information using the friendly and easy-to use functionality provided by the web 2.0 platforms. These kind of social networks reflect events with big social impacts as is the case of forest fires, in particular when they occur close to urban areas. In these cases, social networks are invaded with volunteer information, mostly adding some location information, i.e., volunteered geographic information (VGI) sharing information about the forest fire evolution, which describes the forest fire extinction and impact. We discuss, how this information could be useful to complement other official sources with earth observation data and scientific information providing an alternative source. For the time being, in order to discover and access this VGI is necessary to deal with the different search mechanisms provided by the different web 2.0 services. This paper explores how to improve the interoperability of these platforms by providing a single service as a unique entry point with an interface that implements an standard specification: Open Search Geo-Time. This paper proposes the use of OGC Opensearch geospatial and time specification to discover and access information available in different web 2.0 services. As a proof of concept a web client is presented in a forest fire scenario. The intrinsically interoperability of the system is reflected in the collaborations cropped up with different disciplines such as the biodiversity and forestry department of the Joint Research Centre.
García-Martí, Irene; Rodríguez-Pupo, Luis Enrique; Benedito-Bordonau, Mauricia; Trilles-Oliver, Sergio; Beltrán-Fonollosa, Arturo; Díaz-Sánchez, Laura; Huerta-Guijarro, Joaquín
Aplicación móvil para la monitorización de la contaminación acústica en entornos urbanos a través de técnicas de Gamification Proceedings Article
In: JIIDE 2012: III Jornadas Ibéricas de Infraestructuras de Datos Espaciales. Madrid, Octubre 2012, 2012.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: citizen participation, Gamification, Mobile apps, noise pollution, Participatory GIS, VGI
@inproceedings{GarciaMarti2012a,
title = {Aplicación móvil para la monitorización de la contaminación acústica en entornos urbanos a través de técnicas de Gamification},
author = {Irene García-Martí and Luis Enrique Rodríguez-Pupo and Mauricia Benedito-Bordonau and Sergio Trilles-Oliver and Arturo Beltrán-Fonollosa and Laura Díaz-Sánchez and Joaquín Huerta-Guijarro},
url = {http://www.02.idee.es/resources/presentaciones/JIIDE12/jueves/G49.Artuculo.pdf},
year = {2012},
date = {2012-01-01},
booktitle = {JIIDE 2012: III Jornadas Ibéricas de Infraestructuras de Datos Espaciales. Madrid, Octubre 2012},
abstract = {La cobertura completa de datos en entornos urbanos es crucial para monitorizar el estado del área de estudio y detectar, por ejemplo, tendencias y cambios medioambientales. Recoger observaciones de factores ambientales, como la contaminación acústica, a través de aproximaciones clásicas implica el despliegue de Redes de Sensores, cuyo coste de implantación y mantenimiento, podría ser muy alto para las administraciones locales y regionales. Por otro lado, los dispositivos móviles como los smartphones incorporan numerosos sensores, por lo que, por ejemplo, pueden tomar muestras de ruido ambiental a través de su micrófono. De esta forma, cada smartphone se convierte en un dispositivo de medición de ruido ambiental que cualquier ciudadano puede llevar en su bolsillo. En este artículo presentamos una aproximación para recoger ruido ambiental a través de aplicaciones móviles. Esta aplicación móvil se ha diseñado siguiendo técnicas de Gamification para animar al usuario a participar utilizando sus propios smartphones personales. De esta forma, se involucra al usuario en la toma y la difusión de mediciones de ruido en sus ciudades que posteriormente, otras partes interesadas pueden usar en su análisis y sus procesos de toma de decisiones.},
keywords = {citizen participation, Gamification, Mobile apps, noise pollution, Participatory GIS, VGI},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
La cobertura completa de datos en entornos urbanos es crucial para monitorizar el estado del área de estudio y detectar, por ejemplo, tendencias y cambios medioambientales. Recoger observaciones de factores ambientales, como la contaminación acústica, a través de aproximaciones clásicas implica el despliegue de Redes de Sensores, cuyo coste de implantación y mantenimiento, podría ser muy alto para las administraciones locales y regionales. Por otro lado, los dispositivos móviles como los smartphones incorporan numerosos sensores, por lo que, por ejemplo, pueden tomar muestras de ruido ambiental a través de su micrófono. De esta forma, cada smartphone se convierte en un dispositivo de medición de ruido ambiental que cualquier ciudadano puede llevar en su bolsillo. En este artículo presentamos una aproximación para recoger ruido ambiental a través de aplicaciones móviles. Esta aplicación móvil se ha diseñado siguiendo técnicas de Gamification para animar al usuario a participar utilizando sus propios smartphones personales. De esta forma, se involucra al usuario en la toma y la difusión de mediciones de ruido en sus ciudades que posteriormente, otras partes interesadas pueden usar en su análisis y sus procesos de toma de decisiones.
Díaz-Sánchez, Laura; Núñez-Redó, Manuela; González, David; Gil-Altaba, José; Aragó-Galindo, Pau; Pultar, Edward; Huerta-Guijarro, Joaquín
Interoperable Search Mechanisms for Web 2.0 Resources Journal Article
In: International Journal of Spatial Data Infrastructures Research, vol. 7, pp. 277–299, 2012, ISSN: 1725-0463.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Citizen Science, EUROGEOSS, Interoperability, Open Search, VGI, Web 2.0, Web Services
@article{DiazSanchez2012b,
title = {Interoperable Search Mechanisms for Web 2.0 Resources},
author = { Laura Díaz-Sánchez and Manuela Núñez-Redó and David González and José Gil-Altaba and Pau Aragó-Galindo and Edward Pultar and Joaquín Huerta-Guijarro},
url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10234/62495},
doi = {10.2902/},
issn = {1725-0463},
year = {2012},
date = {2012-01-01},
journal = {International Journal of Spatial Data Infrastructures Research},
volume = {7},
pages = {277--299},
abstract = {We are currently witnessing ordinary citizens willing to share geospatial information using friendly and easy-to use tools provided by Web 2.0 platforms. These platforms act as social networks describing events with large social impacts. Social networks are filled with volunteered information before, during, and after events that occur near human settlements and urban areas. The amount of this geolocated information is increasing due to the increase of location-aware devices that allow users in the field to share knowledge about an event's evolution and impact. In order to retrieve this information one interacts with the different search mechanisms provided by various Web 2.0 services. This paper explores how to improve the interoperability of these various Web 2.0 platforms by providing a single service as a unique entry. This paper demonstrates the utility of the Open Geospatial Consortium's Open Search Geospatial and Time specification as an interface for a service that searches, retrieves and aggregates information available in different Web 2.0 services. We present how this information is useful in complementing other official and scientific information sources by providing an alternative, contemporary source of information. We demonstrate this with a proof of concept presented in a forest fire scenario. The intrinsic interoperability of the system is reflected in the collaborations shown with different information systems such as those at the biodiversity and forestry units in the Institute of Environment and Sustainability at the Joint Research Centre.},
keywords = {Citizen Science, EUROGEOSS, Interoperability, Open Search, VGI, Web 2.0, Web Services},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
We are currently witnessing ordinary citizens willing to share geospatial information using friendly and easy-to use tools provided by Web 2.0 platforms. These platforms act as social networks describing events with large social impacts. Social networks are filled with volunteered information before, during, and after events that occur near human settlements and urban areas. The amount of this geolocated information is increasing due to the increase of location-aware devices that allow users in the field to share knowledge about an event's evolution and impact. In order to retrieve this information one interacts with the different search mechanisms provided by various Web 2.0 services. This paper explores how to improve the interoperability of these various Web 2.0 platforms by providing a single service as a unique entry. This paper demonstrates the utility of the Open Geospatial Consortium's Open Search Geospatial and Time specification as an interface for a service that searches, retrieves and aggregates information available in different Web 2.0 services. We present how this information is useful in complementing other official and scientific information sources by providing an alternative, contemporary source of information. We demonstrate this with a proof of concept presented in a forest fire scenario. The intrinsic interoperability of the system is reflected in the collaborations shown with different information systems such as those at the biodiversity and forestry units in the Institute of Environment and Sustainability at the Joint Research Centre.