Citizen Sensors

For this weeks reading I chose the Goodchild article about citizen sensors and the generation of VGI (volunteered geographic information), he discusses how the evolution of easily accessed software and broadband internet connections has allowed for regular everyday people to post an assortment of information connected to geographic locations. Goodchild discusses how with the voluntary act of giving information about geographic locations can be a useful tool to all who have access to it. It can let people explore areas and topics not covered by media as well as learn about life everyday for all kinds of other societies. Most often the information provided by everyday persons is all that exists about places, therefore it becomes an invaluable resource for all the population.

Several posts back I wrote about the concept of neogeography, this seems like an appropriate time to try and relate the two disparate posts. As the article concerning neogeography points out it has become possible for nearly everyone in developed countries to gain access to the internet and advanced software that allows them to contribute data to the masses. Goodchild uses this in his argument as well, taking it further claiming that the info listed by everyone can be a free resource to explore our natural world.