Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Contemporary and Collaborative Web Concepts
as part of a Geo-Knowledge Tool to Assist Park
Management
Monique Elsley, William Cartwright
School of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences
RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
monique.elsley@student.rmit.edu.au, william.cartwright@rmit.edu.au
Abstract
A research project is investigating if access to an existing, georeferenced
park management data archive can be enhanced through the concept of a
geo-knowledge tool (GKT). The tool is built using the collaborative and
participatory notions of Web 2.0, and associated, potentially useful, user
contributed information. Can the existing traditional data be amalgamated
with non-traditional data sources - available on the Web or generated
through participatory Web 2.0 tools - to produce an effective tool for data
access and enhance the existing archive?
A case study is used to develop a conceptual GKT and a demonstration
prototype. Initial results illustrate the decision making process and data
needs - the basis for the GKT to which non-traditional data sources are
added. An analysis of six digital public data archives shows that there is
a range of potentially relevant information available on the Web, although a
means to assess data quality and usefulness will be beneficial. Results of a
park visitor survey reveal that about two thirds of visitors may be willing
to participate in collaborative activities organised by park management,
provided the task on hand and the purpose are specific.
1- Introduction
Parks Victoria (PV), the organisation that manages parks on behalf of the
Victorian Government in Australia, possesses a vast amount of data col-
lected over the years. The data are held in different formats and are stored
