Sources of VGI for Mapping

The concept of Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) is often exemplified by the mapping of features in OpenStreetMap (OSM), yet there are many other sources of VGI available. Some VGI is very focused on the creation of map-based products, while in other applications location is simply one attribute that is routinely collected, due to the proliferation of Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled devices, e.g. mobile phones and tablets. This chapter aims to provide an overview of the variety of sources of VGI currently available, categorised according to whether they can contribute to framework data (i.e. the type of data that are commonly part of the spatial data infrastructure of national mapping agencies and governments) or not and whether the data have been actively or passively collected. A range of examples are presented to illustrate the different types of VGI in each of these main categories. Finally, the chapter discusses some of the main issues surrounding the use of VGI and points to chapters in the book where these issues are described in more detail.