The Relevance of Protocols for VGI Collection

Abstract

zens is burgeoning. The main issue that continues to hamper the full exploita- tion of VGI lies in its quality, which is by its nature typically undocumented and can range from very high quality to very poor. A crucial step towards improv- ing VGI quality, which impacts on VGI usability, is the development and adop- tion of protocols, guidelines and best practices to assist users when collecting VGI. This chapter proposes a generic and flexible protocol for VGI data col- lection, which can be applied to new as well as to existing projects regardless of the specific type of geospatial information collected. The protocol is meant to balance the contrasting needs of providing VGI contributors with precise and detailed instructions while maintaining and growing the enthusiasm and motivation of contributors. Two real-world applications of the protocol are pre- sented, which guide the collection of VGI in respectively the generation and updating of thematic information in a topographic building database; and the uploading of geotagged photographs for the improvement of land use and land cover maps. Technology is highlighted as a key factor in determining the suc- cess of the protocol implementation.