Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Integrating User-contributed Geospatial Data
with assistive Geotechnology Using a localized
Gazetteer
Matthew T. Rice
1
, William C. Hammill
1
, Ahmad O. Aburizaiza
1
,
Sara Schwarz
1
, R. Daniel Jacobson
2
1
Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science, George Mason University
rice@gmu.edu
2
Department of Geography, University of Calgary
Abstract
We present a methodology for using cartographic-based processes to alert
the vision-impaired as they navigate through areas with transitory hazards.
The focus of this methodology is the use of gazetteer-based georeferencing
to integrate existing local cartographic resources with user-contributed
geospatial data. User-contributed geospatial data is of high interest because
it leverages local geographic expertise and offers significant advantages in
dealing with hazard information in real-time. For blind and vision-
impaired people, information about transitory hazards encountered while
navigating through a public environment can be contributed by end-users
in the same public environment, and quickly integrated into existing carto-
graphic resources. For this project, we build collections of user-contributed
geospatial updates from email, voice communication, text messages, and
social networks. Other necessary technologies for this project include text-
to-voice software, global positioning devices, and the wireless Internet.
The methodology described in this paper can deliver usable, cautionary
reports of hazards, obstacles, or other time-variable concerns along a pedes-
trian network. Using the George Mason University campus as a study area,
this paper describes how transitory events can be presented in usable form
to a vision-impaired pedestrian within a usably short period of time after
the event is reported. Buildings and other destinations of interest can be
registered in a robust, eXtensible Markup Language (XML)-based, local-
ized gazetteer. Walking networks, parking lots, roads, and landmarks are
mapped as vector-based digital information. Any events or changes to the
base map, whether planned and disseminated through official channels or
