LAB 3

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Map: NEWPORT BEACH'S BEST KEPT SECRETS: HEALTHY DINING
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Write-Up:

Neogeography has the ability to enable individuals around the globe to upload and access vast amounts of geographic information. This sounds like a brilliant concept, but it does indeed have a number of potential pitfalls. Those that create their own maps using the wide variety of tools now available to the average computer user can easily skew, tweak, and design their map to their liking. A map on the Internet is not always accurate, especially on personal blogs. Viewers need to sift through UGC and VGI with caution, and pick out only the content they can verify using other references. Neogeography is a beneficial tool but it is not regulated or consistently checked for quality.

Today anyone can make a digital map as long as they have access to a computer and a basic knowledge of technology. Such a large number of individuals can easily create maps that there are often multiple maps of the same thing. Depending on personal preference, each map can be slightly different, differing from where they locate something to directions on how to get there.  When there are multiple maps of the same thing, it can be very confusing.

Many say you need to be technologically savvy in order to make a map in the world of neogeography, but in my opinion this is untrue. Yes, you need to know how to turn on a computer and use Google, but that is essentially the bare minimum. It is almost too easy to make a map. Due to the fact that utilizing tools of neogeography is so simple and user friendly, people who are unqualified are now making maps, and they can be inaccurate.

            Another pitfall of neogeography is that VGI and UGC are bound to data that comes from a source such as Google Earth. If the data on Google Earth is wrong (rare, but occasionally), then any locations used from this imagery in any VGI or UGC content is also incorrect. For example, in the “Citizens As Sensors” article for this weeks reading, the author states that at the time of writing, “Google Earth’s imagery over the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara was mis-registered by approximately 20m east-west.” VGI content that used this data inherited these errors.

Although there are a number of pitfalls, Neogeography has tremendous benefits and potential. Other than the obvious fact that neogeography now makes the sharing of geographic information much easier and much faster than ever before, it also gives a more powerful voice to the general public. Locals often have a better perspective or more information about their environment than the government or surveyors that merely use satellite imagery.  Neogeography enables these individuals to share their wealth of geographic information about their environment. Locals are able to share personal experiences, information and knowledge that only residents of the area possess. This lets an outsider get a glimpse into the “ins and outs” of a town, city, state, etc.  Local, amateur map-makers may have a different perspective than professionals. This perspective is often more helpful and more useful than a professional map, such as a Rand McNally, which portrays only the most basic information.

            An increase in the number of individuals creating maps results in an increased number of watchful eyes. Since more people are creating maps and surveying their environment, there is an increased chance of catching suspicious activity. Neogeography enables individuals to be their own security. The more people that monitor the geography of an area results in an increase in safety, due to the fact that any changes in the local environment can be easily spotted, whether it’s suspicious building activity, pollution, etc.

            Another benefit of neogeography is the potential for early warning systems, as referenced in the reading for this week. When a disaster strikes, local residents are the first ones on the scene. Therefore, they can provide up-to-date information on conditions, weather, damage, danger, etc. Neogeography enables the potential to obtain almost immediate reports from observes on the ground through use of cell phones, cameras, etc.

The consequences of neogeography partly fall within the category of pitfalls. One major consequence that comes to mind is in regards to terrorism. Google Maps and other sources make it incredibly easy to get a fairly high-resolution image of anywhere on earth. This can be beneficial for terrorists who want to plan an attack at a certain location. Although Google claims that images on Google Maps are between three to six months old, I do not believe that this enough to prevent terrorist attacks. Geobrowsers have made access to images of anywhere on the planet much easier and cheaper, and unfortunately I believe that this kind of power can potentially fall into the wrong hands.