Data Democracy - increased supply of geospatial information and expanded participatory processes in the production of data

The global landscape in the supply, co-creation, and use of geospatial data is changing very rapidly with new satellites, sensors, and mobile devices reconfiguring the traditional lines of demand and supply, and the number of actors involved. In this paper we chart some of these technology-led developments and then focus on the opportunities they have created for the increased participation of the public in generating and contributing information for a wide range of uses, scientific, and non. Not all of this information is open or geospatial, but sufficiently large portions of it are to make it one of the most significant phenomena of the last decade. In fact we argue that whilst satellite and sensors have exponentially increased the volumes of geospatial information available, the participation of the public is transformative because it expands the range participants and stakeholders in society using and producing geospatial information, with opportunities for more direct participation in science, politics, and social action. The paper explores these opportunities but also the many issues that arise in using data generated by the public: can the “wisdom of the crowd” improve the quantity and quality of data available? Can it be relied upon? What are the risks? Is it sustainable? What are the quality aspects to consider? The paper is organised in six sections, reviewing the changing data landscape, the different categories of citizen-generated content, addressing quality issues, outlining key open issues, and concluding with some implications for data democracy and some points for discussion, respectively.

CRAGLIA Massimo;  SHANLEY Lea; 

2015-07-10

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

JRC92190

1753-8947,   

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17538947.2015.1008214,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC92190,   

10.1080/17538947.2015.1008214,