Mapping Vernacular Geography: Web-based GIS Tools for Capturing 'Fuzzy' or 'Vague' Entities Export

@article{15108, abstract = {Most people do not use a formal geographical vocabulary, however they do use a wide variety of geographical terms on a daily basis. Identifiers such as 'Downtown' are components of a vernacular geography which is vastly more used than the coordinates and scientifically defined variables beloved of most professional analysts. Terms like these build into the jointly defined world-views within which we all act. Despite its importance for policymaking and quality of life, attention is rarely paid to this vernacular geography because it is hard to capture and use. This paper presents tools for capturing this geography, an example of the tools' use to define 'High Crime' areas, and an initial discussion of the issues surrounding vernacular data. While the problems involved in analysing such data are not to be underestimated, such a system aims to pull together professional and popular geographical understanding, to the advantage of both.}, author = {Evans, Andrew and Waters, Tim}, citeulike-article-id = {3275605}, journal = {International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management}, keywords = {entities, gis, vague, vernacular-geography}, number = {2}, pages = {134--150}, posted-at = {2008-09-16 20:26:14}, priority = {2}, title = {Mapping Vernacular Geography: Web-based GIS Tools for Capturing 'Fuzzy' or 'Vague' Entities}, volume = {7}, year = {2007} }

TY - JOUR ID - 15108 L3 - citeulike-article-id:3275605 N2 - Most people do not use a formal geographical vocabulary, however they do use a wide variety of geographical terms on a daily basis. Identifiers such as 'Downtown' are components of a vernacular geography which is vastly more used than the coordinates and scientifically defined variables beloved of most professional analysts. Terms like these build into the jointly defined world-views within which we all act. Despite its importance for policymaking and quality of life, attention is rarely paid to this vernacular geography because it is hard to capture and use. This paper presents tools for capturing this geography, an example of the tools' use to define 'High Crime' areas, and an initial discussion of the issues surrounding vernacular data. While the problems involved in analysing such data are not to be underestimated, such a system aims to pull together professional and popular geographical understanding, to the advantage of both. IS - 2 JF - International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management EP - 150 TI - Mapping Vernacular Geography: Web-based GIS Tools for Capturing 'Fuzzy' or 'Vague' Entities VL - 7 SP - 134 KW - entities KW - gis KW - vague KW - vernacular-geography AU - Evans, Andrew AU - Waters, Tim PY - 2007/// ER -