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From Volunteered Geographic Information to Volunteered Geographic Services

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Crowdsourcing Geographic Knowledge

Abstract

Volunteered geographic information refers to a range of geo-collaboration projects in which individuals voluntarily collect, maintain, and visualize information. This chapter introduces the related, but distinct, concept of volunteered geographic services (VGS). VGS is based on the organization and exchange of discrete actions through mobile spatially aware devices like smartphones. VGS attempts to extend the limits of VGI by directly linking users together through time and space. VGS’ potential uses in crisis response are considered in light of VGI’s successful role in recent crises. A specific implementation of VGS, created by the PSUmobile.org team, is presented in detail.

The term volunteered geographic services was coined by Krzysztof Janowicz. The PSUmobile.org project was also headed by Krzysztof (http://psumobile.org/).

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Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges the entire PSUMobile.org team and particularly Krzysztof Janowicz, Alexander Savelyev, Wei Luo, Sen Xu, Christoph Mulligann, and Elaine Guidero, without whom this project could not exist. Madelynn von Baeyer and Courtney Thatcher are thanked for early edits and encouragement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Clark University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Jim Thatcher

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  1. Jim Thatcher
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Correspondence to Jim Thatcher .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Geography, Ohio State University, N. Oval Mall 154, Columbus, 43210, Ohio, USA

    Daniel Sui

  2. Dept. Geography, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195-3550, Washington, USA

    Sarah Elwood

  3. College of Letters & Science, Dept. Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, Ellison Hall, Santa Barbara, 93106-4060, California, USA

    Michael Goodchild

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Thatcher, J. (2013). From Volunteered Geographic Information to Volunteered Geographic Services. In: Sui, D., Elwood, S., Goodchild, M. (eds) Crowdsourcing Geographic Knowledge. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4587-2_10

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