Redefinición de lo público

The word motivation is a general term which refer to the incentives for doing something. In this research, three levels of motivation are identified:

o Motivation for using VGI technologies in a LAS

o Citizens’ motivation for collecting and editing geospatial data for the LAS o The motivations of the authorities

The motivation for using VGI technologies in LAS

The ineffective nature of many LAS, suggests that there is a need to build fast and inexpensive land administration systems that can activate stagnant land markets; and it may be that such initiatives are much more valuable than building highly accurate systems which may need more time and money (Adlington and Tonchovska, 2010). Associated with this approach, it seems obvious that VGI can form a major part of such initiatives, and that contributions from people who live near to a spatial phenomenon can provide the best knowledge of its characteristics (Bishr and Mantelas, 2008). In terms of specific application, therefore, one motivation to consider is that official cadastral data provided by official expert structures can be completed and up-dated when combined with data that is provided by volunteer geographic information. From a technological perspective, the expansion of internet coverage and its availability around the world together with the development of smartphone technology, allows for easy and quick techniques to be used for collecting, selecting, uploading, correcting and mapping geospatial data by ordinary citizens without depending on GIS experts (Tulloch, 2007).

Citizens’ motivation for collecting and editing geospatial data for the LAS

The most important motivation is that of the volunteers without whom no VGI project can succeed. The desire of citizens to participate as volunteers in collecting geospatial data over lengthy periods, and not directly linked to financial gain, has been examined by Tulloch (2007), who identified “achieving a higher level of empowerment” as the main factor that motivated citizens to participate in the OpenStreetMap project (the VGI initiative with the highest profile). Goodchild (2007) has suggested that “self-promotion and personal satisfaction” are also major factors. Coleman (2010) suggested that positive factors might include altruism, professional and personal interest, intellectual stimulation, the protection of personal investment, social rewards, personal reputation, the opportunity for self-expression and, especially in the case of

fun, recognition, money, uniqueness, ethos, reciprocity, and instrumentality to characterise the volunteer experience. Cotfas and Diosteanu (2010) considered volunteer participation as a recreational activity, such that the public does not need to be particularly aware or motivated for their participation. However, Laarakker, Georgiadou and Zevenbergen (2014) have suggested that the focussed recognition of a need for better public services and improved systems for land administration might be a more positive driver for participation than such altruistic reasons. Basiouka and Potsiou (2012), who conducted the first practical cadastral mapping exercise using crowd-sourcing techniques, have emphasised that the main reason for the motivation of their participants was the perceived need to overcome bureaucracy and to open the Greek land market, which had been blocked for more than twelve years. The key opportunities for contribution might therefore be market-driven, such as professional or personal interest at an economic level, or the enhancement of a personal job or project, being part of a large social network and being rewarded for having a strong personal presence online, and a ‘fun-factor’ in working within a ‘trendy’ environment, as well as humanitarian and altruistic drivers(Winterbottom and North, 2007; Coleman, Georgiadou and Labonte, 2009; Genovese and Roche, 2010).

The authorities’ motivations

Although a project of VGI is created and maintained by ordinary citizens, the role of the authorities in supporting and guiding the crowd-sourced mapping project is considered to be crucial for the successful implementation of such projects. Hence, the motivation for the authorities in offering support is also very important. Such motivations are regarded by McLaren (2013) as being fundamental to designing a VGI pilot project. He suggests that the completion of unmapped areas or the updating of an existing system, traditionally the role of an authoritative national mapping agency, could be undertaken effectively using VGI projects and crowd-sourced mapping.

This situation is very important for the authorities because it helps them in decision making and can serve their purposes. Another consideration that may motivate authorities to support a project is to select a crowd-sourcing project in a highly populated urban slum area with very small plots, where high levels of accuracy in obtaining land boundary data is not so important for the authority. This type of project can supply authorities with essential information relating to land rights and the delineation of boundaries in these areas which can then be used for planning and updating social services and infrastructure, such as in Kibera in Kenya (McLaren, 2013). According to Enemark (2014) the crowd-sourcing project motivates land professionals by expanding their role and allowing them to serve the entire population rather than focusing

only on a small elite. He also pointed out that the role of the professional will be more managerial in relation to managing and using land related data rather than only creating it. Finally, crowd-sourcing is considered to be a new source of fresh data that may enhance the quality and quantity of the information in the hands of professional and decision makers(Seeger, 2008).