Analysis of a Mapping Programme: Neogeography

Neogeography, literally intending “new geography” is basically a “do-it-yourself” function scheduling, which is going progressively popular and powerful today ( Wikipedia.org ) . In the past, making maps online was left to the GIS specializers who knew the art and linguistic communication of GIS ( C. Morais, 2007 ) . Neogeography, on the other manus can be used by virtually anyone with no expertness or makings required in function, because of this some respect neogeography to be a subset of GIS, while others consider neogeography to hold killed GIS ( A. Turner, 2006 ) . Neogeography is fun as one can make things such as portion the location of their first buss, or vacation, ne’er once more will one battle to retrieve where a exposure was taken ( A. Turner, 2006 ) . In a nutshell, neogeography is all about people utilizing and making their ain maps, sharing information and locations with household and friends every bit good as geotagging images of vacations, while obtaining utile penetration of that location.

Geocoding is of import in neogeography as they provide co-ordinates of a location, which can so be processed ( A. Turner, 2006 ) . For illustration, when users post a image to applications such as Facebook or Instagram, it besides lets them label the location where the image was taken and therefore, cognition is gained in this manner. Some illustrations of neogeography is Google Maps, Google Earth, Yelp, SaveMe999, OneMap, OpenStreetMap, UCrime among others ( A. Coote and L. Rackham, 2008 ) . While each of these have their utility, neogeography besides comes with the power to destruct.

The advantages of neogeography is legion and each neogeography application has its ain specific power that makes a user’s life easier. For illustration, the SaveMe999 application designed in Malaysia, specifically to turn to the handicapped community particularly the deaf and deaf-and-dumb person ( R. Anas, 2013 ) . Undoubtedly, this is a great advantage to the handicapped citizens, as SaveMe999 uses “GPS information in the users’ smartphone to place the caller’s location” when they call and therefore assist can be sent to the right reference as location is one of the most of import facets in directing an exigency response ( R. Anas, 2013 ) . Disabled people can hence be more independent, every bit good as feel more safe and secure.

Google Maps and Google Earth is another great illustration of neogeography. Google Maps is utile such that it shows waies from one location to another, either by auto, motorcycle or walking by demoing the relevant street maps. It besides shows the expected clip that it will take the user to make their finish and one of the most utile characteristic of the Google map is that it can be viewed in three different manners: terrain, a normal map position and orbiter position ( M. Cornock, 2011 ) . One can besides custom-make their ain maps in Google maps which can be saved, loaded or printed out at any clip ( L. Storm, 2007 ) . Google Maps, nevertheless, promotes communicating isolation, as before Google Maps verbal waies was an of import accomplishment to possess and understand but with the enlargement and turning popularity of Google Maps verbal waies are deceasing out ( L.Storm, 2007 ) .

Google Earth meanwhile, shows orbiter and aerial imagination of the specified location in 3D. This is used for many positive effects. For illustration, the World Wide Fund uses it to protect the Sumatran Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelams, alleviation workers uses it for crisis response after natural catastrophe, and it is besides used for environmental issues such as pollution.

Possibly, the finest illustration of how Google Maps and Google Earth came to assist an environmental issue is the instance of the Appalachian Mountaintop remotion, in which excavation companies removed the tops of mountains in order to mine for coal. By utilizing Google Earth and Google Maps conservationists were able to analyze the graduated table of a really dramatic environmental job and was besides able to pass on this issue to the people in the community who so took action to protect their mountains ( Google Earth Outreach, 2010 ) . “In the 10 yearss following the release of the Appalachian Mountaintop Removal bed in Google Earth, more than 13,000 people signed an on-line request to halt mountaintop removal” ( Google Earth Outreach, 2010 ) . Therefore, it can be seen how Google Map and Google Earth is used for positive impacts.

However, Google Earth and Google maps can be misused. One of the most concerning factors is privacy and security, the fact that anyone can happen anything is rather dismaying particularly for safety grounds. Other disadvantage of Google Earth and Google Map include ; inaccuracy of information, unavailability as users need right Personal computer demands and cyberspace, less developed states are ill represented every bit good ( S. Myer, 2010 ) . Furthermore, satellite imagination can capture images that are non delighting to the oculus such as force or war.

UCrime.com is a free online service that provides easy to read offense maps and have automatic qui vives for people that attend universities or montages ( A. Coote and L. Rackman, 2008 ) .Users so receive immediate electronic mails if a offense has occurred near a selected college or university and in this manner there is public safety, besides users can supply tips and thoughts to assist work out offense in the country in which they operate in ( A. Coote and L. Rackman, 2008 ) .

Some general advantages neogeography has to a user are ; it helps users locate topographic points based on other peoples stations, it besides increases consciousness of geographics since anyone can larn how to utilize and make their ain maps, moreover, neogeography allows everyone to lend to the development of the digital universe and immense sums of informations and information is made available by users ( A. Schuyler, 2009 ) . Using neogeography saves clip and money for concerns and organisations and eventually, possibly the greatest advantage of neogeography is that anyone can make maps, they do non necessitate to hold makings or be a professional in function.

On the other manus, there are besides several disadvantages in neogeography and one of the biggest menace of neogeography is its informations quality: its truth, completeness, consistence, and quality confidence ( A. Coote and L. Rackham, 2008 ) . Since users create the maps the information might be wrong and undependable, this can severe effects, for illustration when be aftering a holiday. Besides, when making the maps the Godheads can either add excessively much unneeded information or possibly excessively small, lending to the deficiency of completeness of the information ( A. Coote and L. Rackham, 2008 ) . Neogeographic datasets makes small mention to quality confidence, some maps created utilizing neogeography have no 1 to supervise the quality and dependability of the maps ( A. Coote and L. Rackham, 2008 ) . Security and privateness as discussed before is another disadvantage, as sometimes it so happens that when users create the maps, they may roll up informations from private locations which the proprietors might dislike. Finally, the enlargement of the digital universe could intend less geographic expedition in the existent universe, people might worsen in sing things foremost manus as they can research topographic points online in neogeography and therefore, people may bit by bit go stray from the existent universe.

In decision, neogeography, if non exploited helps us a great trade and the hereafter of neogeography is in our custodies and we have a opportunity to utilize it or misapply that power.

1. Andrew Coote and Les Rackham. ( 2008 ) . Neogeography data quality-is it an issue? [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.consultingwhere.com/wpcontent/uploads/resources/Neogeography+Data+Quality+-+is+it+an+issue+-+V1_1.pdf. [ Accessed 28^ThursdayFebruary 15 ]

2. Andrew J. Turner. ( 2006 ) Introduction to Neogeography. O’Reilly Media, Inc. pp. 2

3. Caitlin Dempsey Morais. 2007. Neogeography. [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.gislounge.com/neogeography/

   .

   [ Accessed 03 March 15 ] .

4. Earth Outreach. ( 2009 ) . Appalachian Mountaintop Removal in Google Earth & A ; Maps. [ Online Video ] . 07 May 2009. Available from: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=aiSzOiGFa-0

   .

   [ Accessed: 19 February 15 ] .

5. Google Outreach. 2010. Appalachian Voices. [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.google.co.za/earth/outreach/stories/appvoices.html. [ Accessed 19 February 15 ] .

6. Laurel Storm. 2011. Disadvantages & A ; Advantages of Using Google Maps Website. [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //science.opposingviews.com/disadvantages-advantages-using-google-maps-website-1538.html. [ Accessed 04 March 15 ] .

7. Rozinah Anas. ( 2013 ) . SAVEME999 Application-Asia Geospatial Forum. [ ONLINE ] Available at: www.asiageospatialforum.org/2013/pdf/Rozinah % 20Anas.pps. [ Accessed 27^ThursdayMarch ] .