2. Crowdsourcing

adopted or even would become a must in future E-Commerce applications. The task of creating such huge data and its updating is almost impossible for any single organisation. With the advent of web 2.0, many individual contributors simulta-

The employment of the service sector was providing some service at a particular location at a specific time. The service type may be on a regular basis or a temporary basis. The regular service is a traditional service in the regular course of time like the supply of milk and newspaper, school bus and postal services and the like. The occasional services like the personal transport, delivery of goods, painting and catering, housekeeping and maintenance and building construction require an exact

Moreover, some of these services required at doorsteps, which were very difficult for strangers to deliver/provide service in a particular geographical location because of the lack of the locational knowledge about the area. The ability to provide the locational information through web-based GIS servers on the go, in the smartphones as shown in Figure 1 improved the services from providing agency to

The added advantage of the voice-based response assisted the drivers during navigation. The safe driving improved, and the advanced information regarding route and driving instructions of the navigation with the real-time traffic and weather information and the distance to be covered with the travel time ensure the punctual destination reach. Advancement in the domain network and computing has contributed to the evolution of the Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) enterprise. Targeted at providing access to the information that they require and an environment in which geospatial users and producers contribute, SDIs are still in the progressive stage, but the architecture is a necessary and useful mechanism for LBS. Wireless data communication combines the mobile and spatial data communication by giving consumers easy access through wireless devices (mobile telephones, personal digital assistants, palmtop computers) to relevant information on the Internet and intranets. The consequential technology is the positioning technology, the way to find out the position of a mobile device accurately. Referable to the unique

neously generated the digital data.

Geographic Information Systems and Science

location for prompt delivery.

the consumers.

Figure 1.

158

Structure of smartphone-based geographical locational service [1].

Crowdsourcing is the concept of integrating the work of the significant participants (crowd). Here the smallest contributions are accumulated to do large tasks which are having hardships physically and economically. It is the more public contribution of work than of the specific professional task, most commonly operated and owned by non-profit making organisations having public involvement. Before the digital era, the term crowdsourcing referred for creating the funding procedure and creating commons of public interest like building communal spaces like the water bodies, parks and vacation spots. In the digital era, the concept of crowdsourcing refers to the creation of data, computation and analysis. It also channels the experts who wish to solve an issue and share the solution to the general public [2].

#### 3. Volunteered geographic information

Virtual globes have unlocked the world of satellite imagery to the general public. They allowed education, entertainment, and exploration for the newbie's [3]. Importantly, a domain to communicate their investigations and information that the public is interested in [4, 5]. The development of Digital Earth (DE) is focused on the whole of humankind to progress considering humanity as a whole. The determination is towards the positive contribution for public peace, safety, order, and general prosperity consistent with the Brundtland Commission on sustainable development [6]. DE is as much social science as it is a phenomenon of quantitative science and engineering. It should equally respect as the social science with an ontology and epistemology, i.e. the study of the nature of the 'reality' of DE (ontology), and the study of the process of the acquisition of knowledge [7].

Geo-informatics is an essential tool in the developing cultural universe of human society. The collection of Geospatial Information with its attributes and its regular updates is a gigantic task in the dynamically changing complex world. The increased precision of positional accuracy and availability of latest high-resolution satellite imageries is the source of Geo-information in Participatory Geographical Information System (PGIS), further enhancing this is the time-to-time updated information in the reliable real-time world. The citizens act as sensors to capture spatial data; these data are edited and managed by a collaborative environment [8, 9].

Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) is all about the location information of mundane things appearing on the earth surface which is recorded by volunteered people through Crowdsourcing methods. The traditional techniques of geographic information were intern gathered from surveying techniques by professionals. Whereas, the conventional methods were accurate but failed to keep the map information up-to-date. The task of disintegrating the work and distributing work to many people mainly called outsourcing, in the corporate sector this system introduced for the economic purpose. In many cases, firms took risks experimenting with outsourcing while lacking a firm understanding of the relationship between internal functions and its spatial implications. Outsourcing has set companies with unexpected drawbacks. The miscommunication and lower quality of products, absence of completeness and focus, which ended in delaying of the

production process. Technological advances have surpassed some of the needs business process outsourcing. The volunteered contributions cannot be pejorative, as they arrived from local expertise having a thorough knowledge of the place. The VGI is open data available for all, and volunteers contributed it. The task of identifying geographical location needed rigorous training in the field of mapping and surveying. The high-resolution satellite imageries made this task more straightforward and comfortable even for amateurs. Some of the natural colours like the blue waterbodies and green trees in the colour satellite imageries made the identification task even more straightforward. The correlation techniques with already available information in the neighbourhood facilitated them to locate the positions and explore more new things. As the process tasks within firms remain unclear, there is a degree of uncertainty about which jobs need to stay geographically clustered together.

design based on different fundamentals, but both provide the geographical information. The critical difference between OSM and Google Maps are on their philosophy of "Open" vs. "Closed" approach, concerning data collection and distribution. In OSM that the user and the community own every edit user make, while every change user makes to Google Maps is owned by Google. The OSM has over 2.2 million registered users who are updating the detailed map of the entire world which makes the project successful. Every update is instantaneously visible to all other users and is version controlled. There are no corporate map release cycle and approvals that are typical to large organisations. Altruism, professional interests, intellectual stimulation, protection or enhancement of personal investment, social reward, enhanced own reputation, provides an opportunity for creative and independent self-presentation; and finally pride of place [12]. However, some negative motivations can also be seen, which could preclude the automation of contributions into a system, and these are mischief, an agenda that can bias contributions, and malice and criminal intent [12]. Long-term VGI sustainability is possible if citizens can contribute to the contents of the projects were these contributions facilitated unobtrusively, casually, or, even calmly [12, 13]. The argument that OpenStreetMap vulnerable to mapping vandalism, subsided by a rapid response of correcting errors,

Volunteered Geographic Information System and Its Contribution in Service Sector Employment

even closed source maps are also equally vulnerable.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82004

affected persons.

161

6. Challenges of VGI

5. The response of volunteered geographers during an emergency

The actively registered members of OSM mapping community are responding quickly to the situations of emergency by educating users and converting them into resources. The power of the OSM community is visible especially during the humanitarian crisis of natural disasters. When the Haiti island suffered 7.0 Mw magnitude earthquake on 12 January 2010, the OSM community within a couple of hours created the map of the whole island from satellite imagery, which helped relief workers to properly coordinate rescue missions and save many lives, while commercial maps were not able to respond in such a short duration. The more recent Nepal Earthquake on 25 April 2015 with a magnitude of 7.8 Mw witnessed over 2000 volunteers map contributions responding to the emergency within 48 hours. These maps helped rescue operators in rendering the helping hand to victims, clearing the debris and providing necessary food and shelter for the

The difficulties with crowdsourcing are the generation of interference and the redundancy of data. The crowdsourced spatial information is very economical, and at the same time, the question of completeness is also significant. The VGI created data mainly focus on places of importance, and sometimes it may be void trivial remote areas. The personalised data uploaded by volunteers are mostly of advertisement in nature instead of information. However, there is a little difference between the advertising and information contents, as distinguishing them in service matters cannot be bifurcated easily. The time-stamped (metadata) attribute data is equally essential in respect of spatial data for temporal analysis. Primary virtual globe software performs similar functionalities such as spatial querying providing satellite/aerial images, topographic maps, GPS, spatial quarry, integration, distance, area measurement, movie makers, 3D graphics and topography and Wikipedia integration [3]. Currently, the usable information will be up to street level and the

The reduction in the monetary value of GPS receivers, with an increase in positional accuracy and the amalgamation of GPS with smartphones, made this technology affordable for the common man. The availability of high-resolution satellite imageries including spatial and attribute data like the Google Earth, Open Street Map (OSM), Bhuvan, Bing maps, in the active web-publication makes it easy to identify and connect the geospatial happenings. The identification of known familiar features in adjacency will resort for confirmation of nearby details. Demand and manufacturing in large-scale reduced hardware prices. Free and open source software's encourages investing intelligence in the geospatial world and befits reaped by all for constructive purposes.

Techniques of pathfinder for converting the crowd into the resource that can provide information through predominantly designed apps ultimately depends on the popularity, awareness, necessity and usage and literacy rate in the region. Whereas, the data collection in the peacetime corresponding to all the major theme may not be exhaustive. The evolution of virtual earth technology has provided access to low-cost and easy-to-use methods and to communicate geospatial information more effectively among the general public, as well as among scientists [3, 10]. Crowdsourced data via smartphones will generate data in real time. This information has enormous perspective in emergency service and disaster management [11]. The inception of open access science, open source software development, open data, social media, transparency and open government movements, have made public sector data accessible freely.

The achievement of long-term VGI sustainability is possible, only if citizens can contribute content to projects where 'these contributions are facilitated unobtrusively, casually, or, even calmly. That the current one-size-fits-all software interfaces for crowdsourcing spatial data may alienate new, inexperienced contributors and expert veteran contributors in equal measure [9]. Geo servers provided access to satellite images to the general public and allowed entertainment, education and exploration of new findings [3, 4]. Mobile phones with integrated with advanced navigation features' for geospatial information service's with mobile Web browsers promotes active as well as passive crowdsourcing. There is now a general acceptance from the public administrators that data are state assets to be shared freely with citizens, civil society organisations and the private sector for the developmental projects [12].

#### 4. Comparison between open and closed VGI

The comparison between the Google Maps (closed) and OSM (open) cannot conclude which one is better, both have many similarities and differences, but their Volunteered Geographic Information System and Its Contribution in Service Sector Employment DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82004

design based on different fundamentals, but both provide the geographical information. The critical difference between OSM and Google Maps are on their philosophy of "Open" vs. "Closed" approach, concerning data collection and distribution. In OSM that the user and the community own every edit user make, while every change user makes to Google Maps is owned by Google. The OSM has over 2.2 million registered users who are updating the detailed map of the entire world which makes the project successful. Every update is instantaneously visible to all other users and is version controlled. There are no corporate map release cycle and approvals that are typical to large organisations. Altruism, professional interests, intellectual stimulation, protection or enhancement of personal investment, social reward, enhanced own reputation, provides an opportunity for creative and independent self-presentation; and finally pride of place [12]. However, some negative motivations can also be seen, which could preclude the automation of contributions into a system, and these are mischief, an agenda that can bias contributions, and malice and criminal intent [12]. Long-term VGI sustainability is possible if citizens can contribute to the contents of the projects were these contributions facilitated unobtrusively, casually, or, even calmly [12, 13]. The argument that OpenStreetMap vulnerable to mapping vandalism, subsided by a rapid response of correcting errors, even closed source maps are also equally vulnerable.

#### 5. The response of volunteered geographers during an emergency

The actively registered members of OSM mapping community are responding quickly to the situations of emergency by educating users and converting them into resources. The power of the OSM community is visible especially during the humanitarian crisis of natural disasters. When the Haiti island suffered 7.0 Mw magnitude earthquake on 12 January 2010, the OSM community within a couple of hours created the map of the whole island from satellite imagery, which helped relief workers to properly coordinate rescue missions and save many lives, while commercial maps were not able to respond in such a short duration. The more recent Nepal Earthquake on 25 April 2015 with a magnitude of 7.8 Mw witnessed over 2000 volunteers map contributions responding to the emergency within 48 hours. These maps helped rescue operators in rendering the helping hand to victims, clearing the debris and providing necessary food and shelter for the affected persons.

## 6. Challenges of VGI

The difficulties with crowdsourcing are the generation of interference and the redundancy of data. The crowdsourced spatial information is very economical, and at the same time, the question of completeness is also significant. The VGI created data mainly focus on places of importance, and sometimes it may be void trivial remote areas. The personalised data uploaded by volunteers are mostly of advertisement in nature instead of information. However, there is a little difference between the advertising and information contents, as distinguishing them in service matters cannot be bifurcated easily. The time-stamped (metadata) attribute data is equally essential in respect of spatial data for temporal analysis. Primary virtual globe software performs similar functionalities such as spatial querying providing satellite/aerial images, topographic maps, GPS, spatial quarry, integration, distance, area measurement, movie makers, 3D graphics and topography and Wikipedia integration [3]. Currently, the usable information will be up to street level and the

production process. Technological advances have surpassed some of the needs business process outsourcing. The volunteered contributions cannot be pejorative, as they arrived from local expertise having a thorough knowledge of the place. The VGI is open data available for all, and volunteers contributed it. The task of identifying geographical location needed rigorous training in the field of mapping and surveying. The high-resolution satellite imageries made this task more straightforward and comfortable even for amateurs. Some of the natural colours like the blue waterbodies and green trees in the colour satellite imageries made the identification task even more straightforward. The correlation techniques with already available information in the neighbourhood facilitated them to locate the positions and explore more new things. As the process tasks within firms remain unclear, there is a degree of uncertainty about which jobs need to stay geographically clustered

The reduction in the monetary value of GPS receivers, with an increase in positional accuracy and the amalgamation of GPS with smartphones, made this technology affordable for the common man. The availability of high-resolution satellite imageries including spatial and attribute data like the Google Earth, Open Street Map (OSM), Bhuvan, Bing maps, in the active web-publication makes it easy to identify and connect the geospatial happenings. The identification of known familiar features in adjacency will resort for confirmation of nearby details.

Demand and manufacturing in large-scale reduced hardware prices. Free and open source software's encourages investing intelligence in the geospatial world and

Techniques of pathfinder for converting the crowd into the resource that can provide information through predominantly designed apps ultimately depends on the popularity, awareness, necessity and usage and literacy rate in the region. Whereas, the data collection in the peacetime corresponding to all the major theme may not be exhaustive. The evolution of virtual earth technology has provided access to low-cost and easy-to-use methods and to communicate geospatial information more effectively among the general public, as well as among scientists [3, 10]. Crowdsourced data via smartphones will generate data in real time. This information has enormous perspective in emergency service and disaster management [11]. The inception of open access science, open source software development, open data, social media, transparency and open government movements,

The achievement of long-term VGI sustainability is possible, only if citizens can contribute content to projects where 'these contributions are facilitated unobtrusively, casually, or, even calmly. That the current one-size-fits-all software interfaces for crowdsourcing spatial data may alienate new, inexperienced contributors and expert veteran contributors in equal measure [9]. Geo servers provided access to satellite images to the general public and allowed entertainment, education and exploration of new findings [3, 4]. Mobile phones with integrated with advanced navigation features' for geospatial information service's with mobile Web browsers promotes active as well as passive crowdsourcing. There is now a general acceptance from the public administrators that data are state assets to be shared freely with citizens, civil society organisations and the private sector for the developmen-

The comparison between the Google Maps (closed) and OSM (open) cannot conclude which one is better, both have many similarities and differences, but their

befits reaped by all for constructive purposes.

Geographic Information Systems and Science

have made public sector data accessible freely.

4. Comparison between open and closed VGI

tal projects [12].

160

together.

data at the floor level if available through crowdsourcing makes the complete GIS of citizen charter. The spatial information can facilitate E-Governess and decision support system.

and people can create a latest interactive map on the Geoweb using an Application Programming Interface (API) with little or no programming knowledge [11].

Volunteered Geographic Information System and Its Contribution in Service Sector Employment

displayed with voice responses.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82004

Intelligence drives the semantic web, and it delivers the information which the person needs and precisely for the observers requested location. The report of the flood, weather, and traffic information is shared instantly for the location of the user. The user likes and needs like restaurants; tourist place enroot of the journey is

Geographical features grouped into point, line, area and volume features. Geographical names of location displayed as text features. Some of the descriptive remarks also shown as text. Some attributes highlighted as tooltips upon pointer location. The point and area features are interchangeable depending upon the scale displayed. The line features generally depict the continues features like the roads and railway and rivers. The linear features are communicative they are also used for network analysis (for finding the shortest path or shortest duration). The surface features depicted as contours and hillside. The boundary lines and contour lines are imaginary lines which will not be visible on the ground and extracted by different means. Boundary lines are surveyed by locating the existing pillars and interpolating the remaining portions from the sketch. The contours are stereo photogrammetrically plotted using overlapped aerial photos or by scanning through the RAdio Detection and Ranging (RADAR) or Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors. The point features are a symbolic representation of features for visual communication. The area features have a commendable geographical extent. The forests, cultivable area, artificial lakes and town limits shown as area features. For visualisation purposes, the line features are classified based on styles, thickness and colour. For area features like water bodies and forest, natural colours blue and green used. The point symbols are cartographic symbols used similar to the profile and planned symbols, the plan symbols like the well and huts appear as displayed from the zenith, the profile symbols are as it appears from the observer's position like the temple and trees. More or less of the conventional symbols are utilised by the

institutes like the hospital and police station are used in the maps.

data model structure can resolve many issues.

9. Data quality, redundancy and challenges

displays [16–20].

163

The data model structure of the spatial database for national mapping depended on the publication scale of the map. The scale-free digital data, there will be ambiguity while determining features. However, the standardisation of symbols with

While displaying, it should be carefully generalised, emphasising the important while removing the unimportant, group the information both thematically and perceptually with attention to visual hierarchy. The good cartographic design principles to adhere to modern interaction design paradigms [14, 15]. Furthermore, researchers in the cartography and geo visualisation domain have taken a keen interest in cognitive, and usability issues and much progress has been made to understand how human capacity can enhance or limit our experiences with visual

The topological relations are crucial for the spatial data avoiding Dangles, Overshoots, and Slivers creates an error-free spatial data. Proper snapping and registration between neighbouring features assure topologically clean data. The relations like neighbourhood adjacency should be the thought in high schools like the logical gates and regular mathematics by adding to the curriculum. However, video lectures training helps amateurs in generating a topologically clean data. Such acts of necessary learning create interests and increase volunteered contribution. The use
