Crowdmapping

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Crowdmapping is a subtype of crowdsourcing [1] [2] by which aggregation of crowd-generated inputs such as captured communications and social media feeds are combined with geographic data to create a digital map that is as up-to-date as possible [3] on events such as wars, humanitarian crises, crime, elections, or natural disasters. [4] [5] Such maps are typically created collaboratively by people coming together over the Internet. [3] [6]

Contents

The information can typically be sent to the map initiator or initiators by SMS or by filling out a form online and are then gathered on a map online automatically or by a dedicated group. [7] In 2010, Ushahidi released "Crowdmap" − a free and open-source platform by which anyone can start crowdmapping projects. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Uses

Crowdmapping can be used to track fires, floods, pollution, [6] crime, political violence, the spread of disease and bring a level of transparency to fast-moving events that are difficult for traditional media to adequately cover, or problem areas [6] and longer-term trends and that may be difficult to identify through the reporting of individual events. [5]

During disasters the timeliness of relevant maps is critical as the needs and locations of victims may change rapidly. [3]

The use of crowdmapping by authorities can improve situational awareness during an incident and be used to support incident response. [6]

Crowdmaps are an efficient way to visually demonstrate the geographical spread of a phenomenon. [7]

Examples

See also

Related Research Articles

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Humanitarianism is an ideology centered on the value of human life, whereby humans practice benevolent treatment and provide assistance to other humans to reduce suffering and improve the conditions of humanity for moral, altruistic, and emotional reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OpenStreetMap</span> Collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world

OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a free, open geographic database updated and maintained by a community of volunteers via open collaboration. Contributors collect data from surveys, trace from aerial imagery and also import from other freely licensed geodata sources. OpenStreetMap is freely licensed under the Open Database License and as a result commonly used to make electronic maps, inform turn-by-turn navigation, assist in humanitarian aid and data visualisation. OpenStreetMap uses its own topology to store geographical features which can then be exported into other GIS file formats. The OpenStreetMap website itself is an online map, geodata search engine and editor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowdsourcing</span> Sourcing services or funds from a group

Crowdsourcing involves a large group of dispersed participants contributing or producing goods or services—including ideas, votes, micro-tasks, and finances—for payment or as volunteers. Contemporary crowdsourcing often involves digital platforms to attract and divide work between participants to achieve a cumulative result. Crowdsourcing is not limited to online activity, however, and there are various historical examples of crowdsourcing. The word crowdsourcing is a portmanteau of "crowd" and "outsourcing". In contrast to outsourcing, crowdsourcing usually involves less specific and more public groups of participants.

Collaborative mapping, also known as citizen mapping, is the aggregation of Web mapping and user-generated content, from a group of individuals or entities, and can take several distinct forms. With the growth of technology for storing and sharing maps, collaborative maps have become competitors to commercial services, in the case of OpenStreetMap, or components of them, as in Google Map Maker, Waze and Yandex Map Editor.

Ushahidi is an open source software application which utilises user-generated reports to collate and map data. It uses the concept of crowdsourcing serving as an initial model for what has been coined as "activist mapping" – the combination of social activism, citizen journalism and geographic information. Ushahidi allows local observers to submit reports using their mobile phones or the Internet, creating an archive of events with geographic and time-date information. The Ushahidi platform is often used for crisis response, human rights reporting, and election monitoring. Ushahidi was created in the aftermath of Kenya's disputed 2007 presidential election that collected eyewitness reports of violence reported by email and text message and placed them on a Google Maps map.

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The Christchurch Recovery Map, also known as eq.org.nz, was a short-lived website providing crowdsourced information about the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011. The site aggregated information via email, tweets with an #eqnz hashtag, SMS and a locally hosted web form. The site was built with open source tools and active support from CrisisCommons and Ushahidi.

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References

  1. ↑ Aitamurto, Tanja (8 May 2015). "Crowdsourcing as a Knowledge-Search Method in Digital Journalism". Digital Journalism. 4 (2): 280–297. doi:10.1080/21670811.2015.1034807. ISSN   2167-0811. S2CID   156243124 . Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 Aitamurto, Tanja (1 October 2015). "Motivation Factors in Crowdsourced Journalism: Social Impact, Social Change, and Peer Learning" . Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sutter, John D. "Ushahidi: How to 'crowdmap' a disaster". CNN. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  4. 1 2 The Impact of Crowdsourcing on Organisational Practices: The Case of Crowdmapping. ISBN   978-3-00-050284-2 . Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Concepts to Know: Crowdmapping". Kimo Quaintance. 4 September 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chemical Hazards and Poisons Report" (PDF). Public Health England. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  7. 1 2 Aitamurto, Tanja (16 January 2012). "Crowdsourcing for Democracy: A New Era in Policy-Making". Social Science Research Network. SSRN   2716771.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. 1 2 Jeffery, Simon (7 April 2011). "Ushahidi: crowdmapping collective that exposed Kenyan election killings". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  9. ↑ "Kamerun: Hier entsteht das neue Afrika". Der Standard. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  10. ↑ Belot, Laure (15 March 2012). "Ushahidi.com aide les peuples en difficulté". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  11. ↑ "David Kobia: Ushahidi Co-founder. Humanitarian. Avid cyclist. - TechRepublic". TechRepublic. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  12. ↑ "FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Ushahidi, Crowdmap and OpenStreetMap" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  13. ↑ Brownstein JS, Freifeld CC, Reis BY, Mandl KD (2008) Surveillance Sans Frontières: Internet-Based Emerging Infectious Disease Intelligence and the HealthMap Project Archived 2008-08-09 at the Wayback Machine . PLoS Med 5(7): e151.
  14. ↑ Barclay E (2008). Predicting the next pandemic. Lancet.
  15. ↑ "Hypochondriacs turn to the crowd to track illnesses as CDC goes dark during government shutdown". VentureBeat. 2013-10-04. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  16. 1 2 Rühle, Alex (1 November 2016). "Crowdmapping: Ushahidi". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  17. ↑ Oxford, Adam. "Nairobi's iHub seeks investment for new hardware hackspace, Gearbox". ZDNet. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  18. ↑ "Crowdmapping". Nesta. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  19. ↑ "How Crowdmapping Attempts to Stay Ahead of Natural Disasters". Cross-Pollinate. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  20. ↑ Foody, Giles; et al. (2017). Mapping and the Citizen Sensor. London: Ubiquity Press. p. 43. ISBN   978-1-911529-16-3. JSTOR   j.ctv3t5qzc.
  21. ↑ "Crowdmapping Irene". We Love DC. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  22. ↑ Halsted, Deborah D.; Clifton, Shari C.; Wilson, Daniel T. (2014). Library as Safe Haven: Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery; A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians. American Library Association. ISBN   9781555709136 . Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  23. ↑ "Crowdmapping Denmark's CCTV cameras". 12 October 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  24. ↑ "Cicada Tracker". WNYC. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  25. ↑ "Can workers save Nepal's sacred sites before the monsoons hit?". PBS NewsHour. 2015-05-05. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  26. ↑ "How data gathering has helped in Nepal". The Irish Times. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  27. ↑ "How social media is helping Nepal rebuild after two big earthquakes". Quartz. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  28. ↑ Bochenski, Natalie (5 May 2015). "Brisbane developers assist Nepal". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
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