The scale of VGI in map production: a perspective of European National Mapping Agencies

The perspective of European National Mapping Agencies (NMA) on the role of citizen sensing in map production was explored. The NMAs varied greatly in their engagement with the community generating volunteered geographic information (VGI) and in their future plans. From an assessment of NMA standard practices, it was evident that much VGI was acquired with a positional accuracy that, while less than that typically acquired by NMAs, actually exceeded the requirements of the nominal data capture scale used by most NMAs. Opportunities for VGI use in map revision and updating were evident, especially for agencies that use a continuous rather than cyclical updating policy. Some NMAs had also developed systems to engage with citizen sensors and examples are discussed. Only rarely was VGI used to collect data on features beyond the standard set used by the NMAs. The potential role of citizen sensing and so its current scale of use by NMAs is limited by a series of concerns, notably relating to issues of data quality, the nature and motivation of the contributors, legal issues, the sustainability of data source, and employment fears of NMA staff. Possible priorities for future research and development are identified to help ensure that the potential of VGI in mapping is realized

Not Arbitrary, Systematic! Average-Based Route Selection for Navigation Experiments

While studies on human wayfinding have seen increasing interest, the criteria for the choice of the routes used in these studies have usually not received particular attention. This paper presents a methodological framework which aims at filling this gap. Based on a thorough literature review on route choice criteria, we present an approach that supports wayfinding researchers in finding a route whose characteristics are as similar as possible to the population of all considered routes with a predefined length in a particular area. We provide evidence for the viability of our approach by means of both, synthetic and real-world data. The proposed method allows wayfinding researchers to justify their route choice decisions, and it enhances replicability of studies on human wayfinding. Furthermore, it allows to find similar routes in different geographical areas

Investigating the feasibility of geo-tagged photographs as sources of land cover input data

Geo-tagged photographs are used increasingly as a source of Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI), which could potentially be used for land use and land cover applications. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the feasibility of using this source of spatial information for three use cases related to land cover: Calibration, validation and verification. We first provide an inventory of the metadata that are collected with geo-tagged photographs and then consider what elements would be essential, desirable, or unnecessary for the aforementioned use cases. Geo-tagged photographs were then extracted from Flickr, Panoramio and Geograph for an area of London, UK, and classified based on their usefulness for land cover mapping including an analysis of the accompanying metadata. Finally, we discuss protocols for geo-tagged photographs for use of VGI in relation to land cover applications

Mapping and the Citizen Sensor

Maps are a fundamental resource in a diverse array of applications ranging from everyday activities, such as route planning through the legal demarcation of space to scientific studies, such as those seeking to understand biodiversity and inform the design of nature reserves for species conservation. For a map to have value, it should provide an accurate and timely representation of the phenomenon depicted and this can be a challenge in a dynamic world. Fortunately, mapping activities have benefitted greatly from recent advances in geoinformation technologies. Satellite remote sensing, for example, now offers unparalleled data acquisition and authoritative mapping agencies have developed systems for the routine production of maps in accordance with strict standards. Until recently, much mapping activity was in the exclusive realm of authoritative agencies but technological development has also allowed the rise of the amateur mapping community. The proliferation of inexpensive and highly mobile and location aware devices together with Web 2.0 technology have fostered the emergence of the citizen as a source of data. Mapping presently benefits from vast amounts of spatial data as well as people able to provide observations of geographic phenomena, which can inform map production, revision and evaluation. The great potential of these developments is, however, often limited by concerns. The latter span issues from the nature of the citizens through the way data are collected and shared to the quality and trustworthiness of the data. This book reports on some of the key issues connected with the use of citizen sensors in mapping. It arises from a European Co-operation in Science and Technology (COST) Action, which explored issues linked to topics ranging from citizen motivation, data acquisition, data quality and the use of citizen derived data in the production of maps that rival, and sometimes surpass, maps arising from authoritative agencies

Adapting individual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (iCST) for delivery by a touch-screen application for people with dementia

Introduction: people with dementia may benefit from technology to enhance their quality of life (QoL), reduce social isolation and potentially improve cognition. Adapting existing interventions to digital platforms is a promising approach with prospective benefits. Group Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) for people with dementia can benefit cognition and QoL. Individual CST (iCST) is delivered by a carer at home and can improve the relationship quality between the person with dementia and carer, and the QoL of carers. Given the lack of technological resources for the mental stimulation and engagement of people with dementia, there are potential benefits of combining iCST with touch-screen technology, which include improving global accessibility to iCST. Aims: to develop and evaluate a touch-screen version of iCST, and examine its potential for implementation internationally. Methods: this study employed a mixed methods approach to the development and evaluation of a novel iCST app. Development included a narrative synthesis systematic review supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC) Framework and the Centre for eHealth Research (CeHRes) roadmap, and following principles of action research and the agile approach to software development. Forty-one people with dementia and carers were involved in patient and public involvement (PPI) consultation meetings, focus groups, individual interviews, and usability questionnaires. Evaluation included a two-arm, feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) (n = 43) to investigate the usability of the iCST app, and feasibility of conducting a large-scale RCT. Three dyads participated in semi-structured, post- trial interviews. Feasibility of cultural adaptation and implementation internationally was investigated in Indonesia where 39 people with dementia, carers, and healthcare professionals participated in focus groups and a stakeholder meeting. Results: the systematic review led to best practice guidelines on how to optimise involvement of people with dementia in technology development. These guidelines informed the development of the iCST app through three iterative prototypes. The idea of an iCST app was well received in PPI consultation meetings, and feedback indicated that the design and navigation of the prototypes were appropriate. A need for a wider range of more relevant activities was identified in the focus groups and interviews. The third prototype of the iCST app was used for the feasibility RCT. Carers using the iCST app rated their QoL better at follow-up 2 (FU2) compared to the treatment as usual (TAU) control group (EQ-5D, MD = 6.34, 95% CI = .92 – 11.76, p = .02). No other significant differences were found. The exploratory work in Indonesia indicated that it is feasible to implement the iCST app given appropriate cultural adaptation and provided that logistical barriers to accessibility have been overcome. Conclusions: this is the first study to develop and evaluate an interactive, touch- screen version of iCST. Findings indicate certain modifications to the trial components including increased recruitment capacity and sample size, and an augmented version of the iCST app. Expansion of the iCST app is needed as most participants completed the activities more quickly than anticipated and therefore, did not receive the recommended dose. Given these adaptations to the study design, it is recommended to conduct a large-scale RCT to investigate formal effectiveness

The social construction of the humanitarian health drone: socialising the UAV

As unmanned aerial vehicles become increasingly present across everyday domains and lives, understanding the social factors driving and shaping the form of these machines gains in urgency. Inspired by socio-philosophical frameworks, this thesis seeks to determine the social drivers and outcomes of this technology, exploring humanitarian health applications in added depth as an empirical example from which future research can derive. A discourse analysis explores recurring themes and phrases from primary and secondary sources which participate in the construction of drone-related narratives, which through the eye of visions and Utopianism can be seen to promote pro-drone conceptualisations of the future. This piece concludes that using a ‘visions’ framework may help frame narratives and guide balanced and considered regulation for the future

The codification of local knowledges through digital cartographic artefacts: A Case study of the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, affectionately known as HOT, worked on mapping the city of Dar es Salaam between 2014 and 2020. The efforts of HOT were designed to not only build a map of the city that would ‘put people on the map’, but to also use these maps to aid in development and humanitarian interventions through one of Africa’s fastest growing cities, all while using participatory mapping practices. This thesis examines the extent to which HOT has been able to achieve the creation of a new map of Dar es Salaam, the influence this map had on development projects, and the degree to which the map was built using participatory methods. The research undertook a deep analysis of map completion and accuracy and used interviews to explore the interplay between technology and micro/macro politics around the mapping of Dar es Salaam. Findings suggest that HOT is still underdeveloped as an organization and lacks the maturity to create true participatory models of working. That many of their practices were exclusionary to the local population and that weak management structures and procedures allowed colonial and ‘outsider’ saviour complexes to grow within the organisation. The work concludes by noting that HOT has begun to change many of its practices since 2020 where this research ends

The Effects of Knowledge Spillovers, Incubators and Accelerator Programmes on the Product Innovation of High-Tech Start-Ups: A Mixed Methods Approach

The Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship (KTSE) focuses on exploring how entrepreneurs use uncommercialised knowledge spillovers into funding a new venture. This phenomenon explores the role of geographical proximity on the exploration of entrepreneurial opportunities that result in the creation of start-ups that promote the evaluation of the economic growth in regions. However, the definition of knowledge spillovers and the mechanisms measurements to evaluate high-tech entrepreneurs during the first years of operation continues to be an elusive research area in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation. This doctoral thesis seeks to shed light on the effects of knowledge spillovers, incubators, and accelerators on high-tech start-ups performance and survival. Knowledge Spillovers research focuses on the effects of economics and the characteristics of countries on start-ups. However, there is a clear gap in stating a definition of knowledge spillovers and taxonomy with other disciplines. Research so far assumes that entrepreneurs automatically absorb knowledge spillovers. This work takes a different approach by identifying the processes, mechanisms and companies that facilitate using knowledge spillovers towards innovation. The doctoral research focused on obtaining primary data from entrepreneurs at the individual level. The study conducted a sequential mixed method exploratory design to empirically develop a model that identifies the types of knowledge spillovers used by companies at the seed and growth stages. A qualitative phase conducted a multiple-case study approach involving 32 semi-structured interviews with chief executive officers and co-founders of high-tech start-ups that attended incubator and accelerator programmes in Greater London, United Kingdom. The resultant conceptual model identified the start-up's strategic decisions to form alliances and partnerships through accelerator programmes, incubators and networking events. The results also suggest that entrepreneurs are likely to allocate Research and Development (R&D) budgets to hire human capital and invest in training to implement information technologies that allow them to overcome geographical proximity and engage in product innovation. The qualitative phase's objective was to identify the mechanisms, processes, definitions of knowledge spillovers, and to guide factor analysis to generalise the findings. The qualitative findings guided the development of incoming and network knowledge spillovers formative constructs that evaluate alliances with organisations and information sources. The results led to quantitative models' development to evaluate the start-up's absorptive capacity and product innovation. The quantitative phase conducted a validation and generalisation of the qualitative model using factor analysis from a sample of 556 founders of high and medium-tech start-ups operating in the United Kingdom. The findings highlighted that tacit and explicit knowledge spillovers positively affect the company's creation during the process of potential absorptive capacity. The results suggested that the entrepreneur valuation of the business idea based on their experience, or by conducting market research through interviews, surveys, and asking experts in the field. The entrepreneurial journey is supported by incubators or accelerator programmes through networking events and the provision of headquarters. The activities undertaken in these programmes provide access to investment from venture capitalists, and headquarters for start-ups to run their operations. This process leads to the development of alliances and partnerships that enable access to knowledge spillovers. Entrepreneurs wound to take the managerial decisions to hire highly skilled human capital and incorporate technological tools and conduct R&D. Furthermore, the model three variant of KST-QNCM proves that the founder's start-ups type of industry's background and academic qualifications influence start-ups operations and objectives. The research's main contribution to knowledge is the developed Knowledge Spillovers model of High-Tech Start-ups (KMS-HTS). The model states propositions and the statistical effects from constructs and variables during the phases of identifying the business idea and creation of the company, establishment and development, and scaling up and the company's future. The model provides a clear description of entrepreneurs' processes and mechanisms to implement knowledge spillovers towards innovation. The model also provides a taxonomy and sources of knowledge under the classification of network and incoming knowledge spillovers that can be implemented in disciplines not linked to economic and econometric models. The thesis provides strong empirical evidence on different approaches taken by entrepreneurs based on the type of industry. The model revealed that high-technology start-ups follow a unidirectional process of absorption and implementation of knowledge spillovers to develop new products through exploratory innovation. Thus, high-tech start-ups become potential sources of knowledge spillovers for entrepreneurs and companies through R&D that generate research outputs, patents, and academic publications. On the other hand, Medium-high technology and knowledge-intensive companies aim to engage in a product development cycle focused on developing a product prototype from existing technology to participate in local and international markets. Under this category, companies can engage in exploratory or exploitative innovation by using information technologies to acquire additional knowledge spillovers