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
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 UKCP09 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 UKCP09 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 UKCP09 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, JavaScript
Multiple-choice and free-text questions
Spatial and non-spatial data written to MySQL 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 (41Latitude 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
!
April 9, 2015
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 ArcGIS) as for GPS data
Points: imported as-is
Lines: Hawth’s Tools > Animal movements
Polygons: ArcScript GPS To Polygon
Point and lines buffered
Vector polygon ‘heat map’ via ArcScript SuperRegionPoly
Data Obtained
Countryside Survey
April 9, 2015
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 ArcGIS) as for GPS data
Points: imported as-is
Lines: Hawth’s Tools > Animal movements
Polygons: ArcScript GPS To Polygon
Point and lines buffered
Vector polygon ‘heat map’ via ArcScript SuperRegionPoly
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
UKCP09
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 (v3.2)
Major 3 years (v3)
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
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