18. VGI and Public Health: Possibilities and Pitfalls

Recent advances in technologies that allow for the collection of volunteered geographic information (VGI) are providing new opportunities for health research. These technologies provide for the collection of time-sensitive, fluid data from a broad pool of subjects using sophisticated yet easy-to-use data collection tools – principally the smartphone and other location-aware devices. Never before has it been so easy for health researchers to collect and analyze real-time location-based data. The result of which can provide continuously updated datasets that often capture a more than just a snapshot of events or environmental factors. These technologies also allow the researcher to create novel datasets that do not presently exist. However, the use of such technologies to collect potentially identifiable data poses risks to both the researcher and the subject. The tools introduce new challenges and ethical problems if used improperly for health research. This chapter investigates both the potential of VGI in public health research while discussing some challenges of using technology platforms that can leverage and provide collection tools for volunteered geographic information.