Science in the digital age
overcoming uncertainty and the adoption of Volunteered Geographic Information for science
Langley, Shaun Arthur
author
Messina, Joseph P.
thesis advisor
Shortridge, Ashton M.
degree committee member
Grady, Sue C.
degree committee member
Walker, Ned
degree committee member
text
Text
Theses
No place, unknown, or undetermined
2014
2014
eng
English
application/pdf
x, 136 pages
With the advent of Web 2.0, the public is becoming increasingly interested in spatial data exploration. The potential for Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) to be adopted for Science through collaborations between researchers and non-scientists is of special interest to me. In particular, mobile devices and wireless communication permit the public to be more involved in research to a greater degree. Furthermore, the accuracy of these devices is rapidly improving, allowing me to address questions of uncertainty and error in data collections. Cooperation between researchers and the public integrates themes common to VGI and PGIS (Participatory Geographic Information) to bring about a new paradigm in GIScience. This dissertation discusses VGI in the context of a new paradigm, eScience, and the broader framework of Neogeography. I discuss current issues with data quality and uncertainty regarding VGI and detail one approach to quality credibility of the data. Finally, the dissertation outlines the framework for utilizing VGI in the context of case study in disease ecology for the purpose of surveillance of tsetse flies, the primary vector of African Trypanosomiasis. My system allows for two-way communication between researchers and the public for data collection, analysis, and the ultimate dissemination of results. Enhancing the role of the public to participate in these types of projects can improve both the efficacy of disease surveillance as well as stimulating greater interest in science.
by Shaun Arthur Langley
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University. Geography, 2014
Includes bibliographical references
Geography
Information resources
Geographic information systems
Geographic information systems
Geography
Geographic information science and geodesy
Information science
Geography
Information resources
Electronic Theses & Dissertations
etd
9781321370119
1321370113
973326583
3646917
Langley_grad.msu_0128D_13063
In Copyright
https://doi.org/doi:10.25335/z9zy-c634
aacr
MiEM
Michigan State University. Libraries
2017-09-01
2024-03-02
973326583
Converted from MARCXML to MODS version 3.7 using a custom XSLT.
eng