GISRUK 2011 Using Google Maps to collect spatial

GISRUK 2011 Using Google Maps to collect spatial responses in a survey environment Nick Bearman Katy Appleton

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions Introduction Using Internet surveys to collect spatial data Two case studies as examples Sonification Evaluation & Countryside Recreation Survey Why use Google Maps API? Problems encountered Data obtained and related issues Future improvements

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions Case Study 1 Sonification of Uncertainty in Spatial Data Why Sound? Visual sense can be saturated with information Sound – easy, cheap, familiar sense Why Uncertainty? Often not available or not included Uncertainty is very important in UKCP 09 data Does sound work effectively to represent uncertainty?

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions Case Study 1 Sonification of Uncertainty in Spatial Data Used Google Maps to: Show the UKCP 09 data (visually & sonically) Collect responses to see how well visual & sonic methods were understood “Select areas over 17°C”

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions Case Study 1 Sonification of Uncertainty in Spatial Data Used Google Maps to: Show the UKCP 09 data (visually & sonically) Collect responses to see how well visual & sonic methods were understood “Select areas over 17°C” Evaluations OS / UKCIP / UEA (n=78) Small groups (6 -8 people) with supervision Discussion session

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions Case Study 2 Countryside Recreation Survey Online questionnaire Preferred location/type of location for a nominated rural recreation activity HTML, PHP, Java. Script Multiple-choice and free-text questions Spatial and non-spatial data written to My. SQL database One map-based question Point, line or area input Same map also used to introduce survey

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions Case Study 2 Countryside Recreation Survey User data entry Pan/zoom allowed; instructions given Buttons to start again, delete last point, re-centre Input can be re-done until survey submitted

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions Why this Methodology? Why Online? Difficult to access target audience Bing Yahoo Allow people to do it in their own time Easily distributed to participants Why Google Maps API? Google Maps dominate - all UK sites & top travel site Most users familiar with it The API was best documented Good user community - forums for support Google Often clearest mapping (41 Latitude Blog – J O’Beirne)

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions Google Maps Examples Different Ways of using Google Maps Ellul et al. (2009) Displaying Data Westminster Council Rosser (2010) Collecting & Re-displaying Community Maps Rate-my-place Collecting & External Analysis Very few collecting spatial data of sufficient quality for subsequent analysis

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Setting up the Surveys How did we set these up? We’re not programmers But experienced GIS users - e. g. scripting Lots of examples as a starting point and Forums Not overly complex, but took additional time Conclusions

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions Using the Surveys We discovered problems as time passed! GMAPI changes on a regular basis Minor every 2 -4 weeks Version (3. 2 -> 3. 3) once a quarter So need to keep code up to date if you want it to work! Example – Google Pegman appearing in sonification example Easily solved (forums) but a potential problem GMAPI is a Remote Resource Reliant on external sites Sometimes tiles didn’t load properly – had to refresh Need Internet connectivity - had to postpone sessions

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions The maps in use Interaction issues Essentially the maps worked as desired – eventually! Unable to extract data values from KML layer Behaviour of background KML when digitising Concave polygons problematic: Handle via complex coding ! 28 February 2021

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions Data Obtained Countryside Survey Spatial data were written to an SQL table as lat, long, respondent ID, point # - reconstructed (in Arc. GIS) as for GPS data Points: imported as-is Lines: Hawth’s Tools > Animal movements Polygons: Arc. Script GPS To Polygon Point and lines buffered Vector polygon ‘heat map’ via Arc. Script Super. Region. Poly

Data Obtained Countryside Survey 28 February 2021

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions Data Obtained Countryside Survey Spatial data were written to an SQL table as lat, long, respondent ID, point # - reconstructed (in Arc. GIS) as for GPS data Points: imported as-is Lines: Hawth’s Tools > Animal movements Polygons: Arc. Script GPS To Polygon Point and lines buffered Vector polygon ‘heat map’ via Arc. Script Super. Region. Poly Problems evident with digitising accuracy

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Data Obtained Countryside Survey Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions Data Obtained Sonification Survey XY Points Convert to UKCP 09 Cells Ideally raster analysis But rotated pole gird was too complex

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions Data Obtained Sonification Survey How much does the saved data represent the user experience? Did they outline or fill in the area? How many attempts did they have? How much time was spent working out the interface, rather than completing the exercise? Discussion Sessions Some extra data, but not complete picture User Interface is important, but not main aim of study

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Methodological Issues for Academic Research Academic work should be reproducible ‘Standing on the shoulders of giants’ The Google Maps API code will change Minor versions kept for 3 months (v 3. 2) Major 3 years (v 3) How do we deal with this? Possible solutions: Flowchart of code Comment code Video use of the evaluation – sonification Also shows flow of questionnaire Conclusions

Introduction Case Studies Why Google Maps API? Coding & Using the Surveys Data Obtained Conclusions Two different case studies Sonification Evaluation & Countryside Recreation Survey Can use Google Maps API to collect spatial data Relatively easy to setup, easy for users to use Lots of help (guides, forums etc. ) available to help setup Unsupervised surveys need careful planning Error trapping etc. particularly with spatial data Question mark over use of API – it will change with time If use of GMAPI is developed and shared, there is potential for it to become a very useful tool for spatial data collection.

Thanks & Questions QMRG Quantitative Methods Research Group