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Implications of Volunteered Geographic Information for Disaster Management and GIScience: A More Complex World of Volunteered Geography

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Abstract

Volunteered geographic information (VGI) refers to changing practices in recent years associated with technological advancements that provide increasing opportunities for private citizens to produce geographic information. VGI activities range from public contributions to online crowdsourced mapping projects to location-related posts on social media sites. These changing practices have important implications for citizens, traditional authoritative systems of geographic knowledge production, and the disciplines of geography and GIScience. One field affected by VGI is disaster management, with numerous studies reporting on the opportunities associated with increased citizen data and involvement in crisis response. There are also significant limitations to the application of VGI, however, notably related to scale, the digital divide, trust, uneven power relations, and adaptability of existing authoritative systems, such as formal emergency management. In this article, these issues and more are critically discussed through examination of three discreet yet related studies of VGI in community bushfire (wildfire) risk reduction in Australia. Although each study has its own unique contributions already published, the collective insight gained by analyzing the studies together provides new and deeper perspectives on critical issues of relevance to both disaster management policies and geography and GIScience. Importantly, the article advocates for greater emphasis on the social aspect of VGI, with citizens mapping and sharing knowledge together, rather than on individual observations and large volumes of data. Further, it raises questions of some of the much-promoted promises of VGI, particularly those that suggest that VGI can allow “everyone” to contribute to geographic knowledge production.
Implicaons of volunteered geographic informaon for disaster
management and GIScience: A more complex world of volunteered
geography


Abstract
!"# $%&!"
!!!"
!"'!!"( $%""!)
)"!!!*"+!
(!"!!""'"
"!!"!!
$%(,-!) $%
!"!!""'
!(-"!!" $%)
!"!)."
"(%"
"."
 $%)-#-&"(
/)"!)")'
!!!!""
)!!$%(%!"
0
!! $%"'!!
)"
(1/"+!! $%
!" $%23)!
!"(
Keywords4volunteered geographic informaon (VGI); disaster risk reducon; GIScience;
disaster management; digital divide
5
Introducon
Volunteered geographic informaon (VGI)
!!+
#$6&")5(7
#$5705&()5(7#,385779&)+"
)"
#$577:&)-!
.)5(7!!)"
#)(570;&(%577:$!$6
!"# $%&( $%!
)!"'"!"
#$577:)&(8<#570=&$3-"
.!" $%
!!""#(($5705>
(570=&(
$%))!!")
)5(7$)?"#$?&
!'"))"#$577:)&
)"!@!#8,
577A&( $%')!"#570B&
)"!#C(5707&!)
!"#$%&)!!D
,!E!#,E&#)577F&""23"
B
!#$577:)&("
)-!"!"(
<D"")"!))!
 $%D)6,!"#5705&(!
).!!!").!!
$%(23 $%".!
.!!,E#6,!"5705&(
! $%.!!!)
"'!"#(570:&(
$%!!G"
!""(<!
/ $%!"!!"/"
!!#$5705&(-
!!"$%!!"
)!!#$577F>
?577F>577F&(H!!"
)+)!"!!!2+
!!3+.!"!!#I''570=&(
.!!!)
!!J $%)."
!!")
"!!)
"!!"!))
=
.!#$5705&("
G!!!!"
'"!!#I''570=&(H!)
"/"!)I''#570=&
!"neo!!(.!
!!+!!
"#$577F&(!)"
!"!".!!
!!"D"")!"
"!".!!"
#$577A>I'570=&(6"!.!)
+.!-!>
!!!.))($!
)+".!"!!$%
"!+!"
.!!"")! $%#$
5705&(6IK#5705&)-
!"!"')""
"!"/
!"!"!"( $%!
!""!
!"-!!"(,-!) $%
#5709&"(
9
VGI and disaster risk reducon
". $%.
!""#<88&(<!"
! $%")(
)!!"
-)!))) $%
)-"-"'
.(EL $%!))
!"!"(E!+
"!)"
!""!) $%
"!+!"(
)
!+!+#?577B>?I577:&(?
"!
'#0AAA&(<!!
!)""#(
577B>E(5700&(G
!'!""!)
!)!"!"#?577B&(?#577B&!
!'!)!"!")")
!!)'""(
"1"5779+5709*!
;
!)0;F!'+)
D"#H%<85779&1
<88"5709+57B7!"!"
!!#H%<85709&(<
)!!+)"
))""!"+
'"+!"#)577;&(
%G!!!)!
) -86#et al.5707>EI
5705&(!!!!)#)
!!))
&(!
!"#<88&(
"(!
!2)3!"
).!""
!)#6570=&(8)!
)!!!"M!'+
D)'G
!-!N#C(5707!(5F&(H"
<8#H<8>6,$5700&-)
M""'"N
"!"+
:
!#!(9&(6
?"?!8!8
#??88&#??5700&(?"!!
!">!!
"!!!"!
)!))'!
">!"G
!'!!D!
!!>!!!"+D
")+)#)5770&(
8!' $%!#
5709>K(570;&(!)
!!!""!!""
!))!!#K(
570;&(.!4)!!D
!5707"/#E5705&>
+!!!"
"!!!!OPI<5707Q00
#E<5700>(5705&> $%""
""-)577:+577A
#$$5707&570B#%(5709&(
)!!"!) $%
!"(!"".
F
!"#(5705&"+
""!"
)))#+R8570B&"
!!"!)#E<
5700&)!"!!
"#LEI5709&/
!!"!) $%(.!!
)/#,!"5700>$I5705&
"!#(570B&!
!)#570B&!"
!"!"# <*
570B>$570B&(
)! $%)!
)-"!!"(<
2++3M!.!+
"S"")!)N#?I577:!(:5:&( $%
-!""!+
"!"!(
<-"!!"
!" $%.!!!"
)-#wildreforest re"&"
")!" $%&
")&!!$%(
A
!!D
!!"!
!!!!-("
"!!
" $%!
-$%("D!
!)-4 $%#
5709&).!!
)+."
>)"#
E5709>570;>L570;&
)!!(%
.!"O""
/!!"!!" $%
(
"(.")O)
.-(G
%""
)L")!!!" $%(
I%!"D"
(
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A tale of three studies
.
 $%<88)-
)!#-8
H)T()-)(((U&!
V).!!!"' $%(
$%'!)
!"O/)-!
"!! $%!!"
!"!"-!/
.)" $%(
-"!
#W5700&()-
!!!")+)
!"!!.#E6
?L577A&D!!")
.)"#15705&(E*)-
"#.!(5709>
%(5709>8(570;>L570;&(
%")-
!!)(
!!(?!
""!!!(
00
)!!"!!
-)!!!"
"D""""
!!"#?577B&(1"
!)!"!"!!
<88)#H%<85709&(P"D"
!!!" $%!"<88
)(
Study 1: Assessing the potenal use of VGI in DRR through community surveys
-.!" $%
)-")!
"(05+"
)+!09=!#
-E5709&(!!
)!!" $%
!!"!"!@
1)(P"
$%+!!L!"
)-!!")) $%
!!!!(6""-!"
$%!"!"
!""(E $%"
X!"!"!")
05
!""")!
(
Study 2: The perspecves of emergency management professionals
)0
!!"!!!"
 $%+
0B!"!!
'"#-570;&(%!
 $%!"""
!D"(?"-
"."'!+
!"-!!" $%(<!
)//
!)(
!!!!D" $%"'"
""'"
/"
!"!
!" $%!!"(
Study 3: Tesng VGI in pracce through parcipatory mapping
!!!
)-!!"!"))
3)-
0B
<88(!!"!
!!!"!)!"!
/"#-L
570;&(?"!L!"
)"!!+)!!"")-
!!"(!'#YB0&!
""'")!!")/"
!!!")")!"!
!"!!"!"
!!!!"(!"!!!!!
" $%!!!
!)")- $%$%(
!)"/"!!"!
!! $%)-)!"
!))"!"!"(*-
.!"!)-
!!! $%!!)
!"!!!(6!! $%
/!!"!"
!&)&)-&!!
)!!.!+!!
!(
0=
General discussion
-)
(!"-
."%)"
!!"(
1! $%(!!
)+.!)(?
!'))
)."!!!) $%(% $%
)D"
!!"(%!"!!!!"
)))!+!"!
!!!")-
(1<88!
!23#!!)& $%)
.!)(KI#5709&!!
)"!
")"!!!
!)(!
!"))/!!
/
)!-/"
.#KI5709&(K#570;&!'
09
!))
")("!"
!'!"!/"
)"/"
!#K570;&(
$%)")
!)"(<X)!)
."#KI5709&
"-.!)!#
5&()"! $%
)D"( $%!*)
X(I)!! $%
))"!
")+!
"-! $%(
$%!"!"%"
23 $%!"
!@())
"!+)"
/")&!'"23
-+!"
#E(570;&>)&"
23(!!)
0;
!@)
"!!!)!
")(32
3D!
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!"'""'
)!") $%)
.23 $%!"
)23(
?"O)-!"(
%"-
"!!" $%(6).!
)L))X
""#0&(
!!"'+!"
" $%X#5&(!!"!-
!!)
#B&(
 $%/))!"(
)X $%!"! $%!"
!(")
!" $%)( $%!
#E6E"' !5709&)/
0:
.!+)!6-
)
-"G(E6E"' !#5709&
"!!+(1!
23!!.!" $%)"!!
!"!"23)"
 $%!!(
% $%
!")-
!!(!
)) $%)"!!" $%
!!!).
!"!(!(
1!) $%"(
)!"! $%
!"" $%)-!!"
( $%!!"
!"!"!"!
!"!!!""() $%!
2)3)!" $%"
!"(
!!)GD $%!.!
!)!"!!!")-"
0F
""(!! $%!"!"-
"!"!-"
)(
")" $%!.G
.)."+)
+)(.
""
D)!!
)!(!"
-.($!!" $%!)
!"!"
!!!)-!"
!!!!"!(
Implicaons
Implicaons for authoritave disaster management
$%)!*
!!!"(
,!" $%!"
!!""'+
!"!"(%!" $%!!

.
!!"(!-G $%
0A
(? $%!!
"++
!-""!!
""L
!!" $%!!
(
 $%D!
!!"
!!"(%"" $%
!"!!!1))
-(+)!)4
))!""
!">"">
'!!"!!>
)")-+!! $%)-
!!($!"
!"!!!
!!"!!!!
)B(%!")
"'!!
!"!)L+!
!" $%(
57
, $%( $%
"!""
""(-"!)
2!!3!)
2.!3( $%!"!"
""(1 $%
'!"'!"
(%. $%
!"/
!!"!!"
"+!"!"!!"
!("!G
!)"'3
)")X!!" $%
)D"'()!
! $%!@)X
.!"'+
"'(8"!)!
"'!-
!)(
%!" $%
!!")-)-!!(8%
!" $%!."
50
/!'")+!'
"(!-
!#5&"
)X3!"!" $%!"(
$%!is!!!!

!)(!"!"!
!.)-!
"!!
with")+
)!!G $%!@(
"")
()!(%
$%)-%
!"/'"(
!"!"
!""'"+
!""G!
'!+""!)"
!!""'(1!
!D"($
!.!" $%!")
"/(!
55
"'" $%")
!!" $%"
""D" $%
(+!"!!!!!"'
$%!!!(
% $%!!
"GX
(1*)
'"("
!!G!-"
.).!!)
!! $%
!"(!".!
.)D $%"
( $%)!!)"
(!"D"! $%
"))+"'".!
!))-
".)-!!"(!!
"'"!""" $%
(
5B
Implicaons for geography and GIScience
6)""!"(1
!'" $%!!!"
! $%!!)$#577:)&)!' $%
!)!.!"(% $%!
) $%) $%(L
)3"""D!"!
#$577:)>570B&""#((6et al.577A&
) $%#((1E'
577F&3 $%!"(
 $%!!!
"+.!)" $%)
!-"<88(%!
)" $%)"
))-!!"
!-"!!( $%)!
!!"!)!!"
!))))(
6!' $%!"!
"'"!"!"
"!")!/"(
""$%
"-" $%")-
5=
!"!!"#?$%&!)!"!"$%#??$%&
#E6E"' !5709>570:&(E6E"'
 !#5709&#570:& $%!"!
"!
"!(#!"B&
!-!!"(
%! $%"')!"!#570B>
E6E"' !5709&??$%
)"!""'!""
 $%( $%!"!
".!!"!!!
!!BD!!
(!!)-) $%??$%)
!""!@"
)")!!"!"!
!"!
( $%)!2)3#5709&
 $%!23
)"(!!
!!))
! $%!"!!!))
)!)!!$%(
59
)0!!" $%
!-"!!
$%<88
)(
Table 1. A summary of the key implicaons of VGI
[INSERT TABLE 1 HERE]
Consideraons and future work
!)""
)"<88.")-!$%
+!"-("
"!"!"".
!!!"(
!"#0&!"!!!
!#B&)!"!(!
+!"!!!
+!"!!'
+)(%)!!"!!!
!"!.))
!"!+!
!"#KLZ570=>570:&(1/
)L++! $%!"!!!
!*(
5;
I(1!!"!!!
!"/"
.!"!""!"!"!"
)
!)(8")-!!"!
 $%!"/"!"!3
perceived(1+!!"!)
!V"))!-"
 $%!!.)-
!!".!"L)-!(
1"!!
 $%""!@(" $%
!#5&
)!"!!!!#B&(
)!!"(!(
1 $%!@!"!"
!(!)"!)
!!
!!"!!)
(I)"'#6!570;&
!*D""'"'
(
5:
!) $%!"
!!))-
!"!"( $%
/L"(1'"
/!)L+"'
)!) $%""'+!
).")(
/")! $%!"
)()!
!(,
G)-.!"
)"! $%(!
)/"! $%)L>
!>23
)2323>!!
23>2)3
!"!!!J/")!
!"(
I.!- $%)-!!"
(-!!))/")
. $%.(%"-""(
1))-.!"!
.!!"
5F
!!DD
!"D+
!"(
!!" $%)
!??88(8
". $%!
)"!!")!!" $%
!"!"Q).(,
)/" $%<88
.)
")G(
$%!"!!!"
!)"!
!(!"""(
/")-)
'O!"
(+!!
!O)(8
"" $%)"D
)!")
!)*-(
5A
Conclusion
 $%<88!"
)L+!!"!"""
"""!+-)
-(%!" $%)!")
"'$%"
')2.!3"'"!"!!"
!+!!$%(E)
!)!!"!) $%(
"!.M!N#$
577:)!(500&"!""'$%"
!!""( $%
!!!"!"!
."!"
!G+')) $%(.
$%)!)
)+!'""'+!!(%'"
)!""!"
"')) $%!!")
)!!"(!! $%
" $%!"!!
!"!"!!!"
)"!)"
( $%!")"'
B7
!"!"!"-
!""")/")
J
Acknowledgements
%K%W6)LH<
"(%E+?K
"(?
!!)6-H'
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1(%!"!
))"(
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References
)W(5770(<4"
(Emergency Medicine0B40;9+0:B(
W(W(5700(?")-4
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$(570:(!D!)!"!
!!#??$%Q?$%Q $%&(Transacons in GIS504BA+9;(
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()I((LE(570=(<)"!L"
!)#Megaptera novaeangliae&W4!"
!"'(Applied Geography9=4FB+A9(
?(0AAA(8-).
(The Australian Journal of Emergency Management0B#=&450S5;(
8(5709(8)4!"!
"(GeoJournal F7#=&4=::+=A7(
6<(W($[(I)W(577A( !"4
""!(Internaonal Journal of Spaal Data
Infrastructures Research=4BB5+B9F(
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"'!"(Annals of
the Associaon of American Geographers075#;&405;:+05FA(
6!6((570;(Cizen Science: How Ordinary People are changing the Face of
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(Geography CompassF#A&4;5:+;=7(
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"4!"!!"(Annals of the
Associaon of American Geographers075#B&49:0S9A7(
<(8(6I(6(EL8(I(<<(
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... If privacy is compromised, VGI's tendency towards opportunism, data-centricity, disruption, and exclusivity will be diminished (B. T. Haworth et al., 2018). ...
... Data that is incomplete or biased may be the consequence of limited involvement and the exclusion of some community members, which may ignore the needs and viewpoints of vulnerable populations (B. T. Haworth, 2018). The accuracy and relevance of VGI data are improved by inclusive involvement, resulting in more efficient decision-making and focused intervention activities. ...
Chapter
Volunteered geographic information is a crucial tool in disaster response and recovery, transforming data collection and sharing. It has significantly improved disaster management by providing insights into urgent needs, damage estimation, and resource allocation. The distribution of VGI during relief efforts has greatly benefited from social media platforms, supplemented by hashtags and machine learning techniques. Mobile and web-based technologies and community involvement have improved coordination and decision-making. VGI is crucial for monitoring development, evaluating infrastructure, and assisting risk assessment during the recovery phase. It's important to pay attention to issues like data quality, privacy, inclusivity, complexity, obsolescence, appropriateness, accessibility, and technological infrastructure. Future studies should concentrate on automated systems for data validation, resolving privacy and security issues, and encouraging marginalized people to participate.
... Finalmente, la cartografía también se ha beneficiado de aplicaciones de georreferenciación, mediante las cuales diferentes usuarios aportan en la recolección de información, en lo que desde 2007 se ha consolidado como la información geográfica voluntaria (IGV) (Goodchild, 2007). Esta hace referencia a la provisión de información geográfica a partir de la participación de ciudadanos (Caquard, 2014;Haworth, 2018;Magaña & Valverde, 2016;McCall et al., 2015;Ruiz, 2010;See et al., 2016;Verplanke et al., 2016;Watkinson et al., 2022), y el proceso de comunicación se hace entre las tecnologías de la información y quienes, desde sus localizaciones, proveen información según la temática requerida. Las aplicaciones varían desde la producción y actualización de la cartografía base, por ejemplo, con el uso de OpenStreetMap, o aplicaciones específicas en situaciones de desastres como ©Ushahidi, entre otras. ...
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resumen: Este artículo propone una categorización de cartografías en espacios de participación, con base en las experiencias del Grupo de Investigación de Espacio, Tecnología y Participación (ESTEPA) de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Toma, a manera de ilustración, cuatro ejemplos realizados en diferentes contextos de Colombia, resultando en distintas formas cartográficas, las cuales, aunque se superponen, no tienen las mismas posibilidades de transformar los territorios. El análisis se fundamenta en el proceso de comunicación en el que un mensaje es emitido por una persona o un grupo de personas y, a su vez, recibido por otro. Este ejercicio tiene un propósito e involucra una forma de ver el mundo (ontología) y relaciones de poder (política). Los ejemplos seleccionados consideran sus emisores, los métodos y herramientas que se utilizan, el mensaje o intención de la acción de cartografiar, el receptor y quienes participan en su elaboración. Las categorías cartográficas propuestas, sin ser exhaustivas y reconociendo que tienen aspectos que se superponen, son: participativa, social, alternativa, colaborativa y convencional. La categorización busca ofrecer un marco teórico-metodológico de referencia que permita, a quienes utilizan la cartografía y la participación, considerar el verdadero impacto del ejercicio de cartografiar en los territorios, así como validar académicamente otras formas de hacer investigación. abstract: This article proposes a categorization of cartographies in participatory spaces, based on the experiences of the Space, Technology and Participation Research Group (ESTEPA) at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Four case studies carried out in different contexts in Colombia are given as examples of the different mechanisms to show distinct forms of mapping, which, although overlapping, do not have the same possibilities of transforming territories. The analysis is based on the communication process in which a message is issued by one person or a group of people and in turn received by another. This exercise is purposedriven and involves a way of seeing the world (ontology) and power relations (politics). The selected examples consider their creators, the methods and tools used, the message or intention of the mapping action, the recipient, and those who participate in its preparation. The proposed cartographic categories, without being exhaustive and recognizing that they have overlapping aspects, are: participatory, social, alternative, collaborative and conventional. The categorization seeks to offer a theoretical-methodological framework of reference that allows those who use cartography and participation to consider the true impact of the exercise of mapping in territories, as well as academically validate different ways of doing research.
... Geo-OPTs like CSR are not standalone solutions; they are best employed within a broader engagement plan (e.g., Haworth 2018;Falco and Kleinhans 2018;McCall and Dunn 2012). Previous studies recommend that geo-OPTs be combined with other approaches to ensure equitable representation as well as good communication (Afzalan and Muller 2018;Glaas et al. 2020), including for those who prefer not to engage in public meetings, e.g., due to personality or concerns about controversy (e.g., Haklay et al. 2018;Evers et al. 2016). ...
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Geospatial online participatory tools, or geo-OPTs, are increasingly used worldwide for engaging the public in planning. Yet, despite growth in the adoption and use of geo-OPTs, and the growing scholarship to accompany it, our understanding of their ability to support public participation in environmental planning is still underdeveloped. In this paper, we investigate the application of a geo-OPT by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), a leading water management agency in the United States, in three contextually and geographically diverse cases. Through a combination of document analysis, interviews, and participant observation, we examine the processes and dynamics associated with the development and use of the geo-OPT Crowdsource Reporter. Our findings highlight the importance of managing geo-OPTs not in isolation or as a panacea but rather as part of a broader planning process that recognizes the complexity and significance of communication in geo-OPT processes. Although it may be tempting and seemingly simple to create and launch these online tools, our research reveals how a lack of intention early on may lead to underuse or misapplication of the tool. More significantly, real damage can be done, like increased public frustration and alienation, resulting in breakdown in communications or even worsening public relations for federal agencies.
... Social media, Twitter in particular, has been cited as being useful as a rapid means of gathering disaster-related information in real-time (Granell and Ostermann 2016;Joseph et al. 2018;Landwehr et al. 2016), although the use of social media data does come with its own challenges (e.g. underrepresentation of certain demographics) (Haworth 2016(Haworth , 2018Haworth and Bruce 2015;Zhang and Zhu 2018). Thus far, most disasterrelated research utilizing social media has been datacentric where it was used for disaster-related information extraction, followed by application-centric where social media was used in combination with other data sources for specific disaster-related applications (e.g. ...
... La información cartográfica generada y proporcionada al Cabildo hizo espacialmente explícita la localización de los flujos de lodo y aportó información sobre zonas potencialmente riesgosas para el asentamiento y las actividades productivas de la población. Sin duda, esta información brinda insumos que podrían mejorar la gestión local del riesgo de desastres y fortalecer la respuesta colectiva ante fenómenos similares en el futuro, como se ha visto en otros casos (Haworth, 2018;Chari et al., 2019). ...
... La información cartográfica generada y proporcionada al Cabildo hizo espacialmente explícita la localización de los flujos de lodo y aportó información sobre zonas potencialmente riesgosas para el asentamiento y las actividades productivas de la población. Sin duda, esta información brinda insumos que podrían mejorar la gestión local del riesgo de desastres y fortalecer la respuesta colectiva ante fenómenos similares en el futuro, como se ha visto en otros casos (Haworth, 2018;Chari et al., 2019). ...
... La información cartográfica generada y proporcionada al Cabildo hizo espacialmente explícita la localización de los flujos de lodo y aportó información sobre zonas potencialmente riesgosas para el asentamiento y las actividades productivas de la población. Sin duda, esta información brinda insumos que podrían mejorar la gestión local del riesgo de desastres y fortalecer la respuesta colectiva ante fenómenos similares en el futuro, como se ha visto en otros casos (Haworth, 2018;Chari et al., 2019). ...
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Since the inception of volunteered geographic information in 2007, this area of study has seen a proliferation of terms and concepts representing diverse forms of user-generated geographic data and systems. Despite the rich development of VGI (volunteered geographic information) in geography, recent trends indicate a disjointed research field. This progress report critically examines the trajectory of VGI, mapping its journey from an emergent set of practices to a fragmented research domain. Moving forward, it is up to the research community to either reignite the interaction and integration required to build a subdiscipline of GIScience or allow this research domain to extinguish.
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