This study surveyed 516 registered OpenStreetMap users about barriers to contributing geographic information to the project. 62% of registered users had never contributed, while 89% of all changes were made by 9% of users. The top barriers cited were that editing is too complex, contributions are not visible on the map, and a lack of communication/interaction with the community. However, no significant differences in barriers were found between experience levels or genders. Improved help options and a more user-friendly interface were cited as motivations to start or resume contributing.

1. BARRIERS
for contributing
to VGI* projects
FORSCHUNGSGRUPPE
KARTOGRAPHIE
Research Group Cartography
RESEARCH GROUP CARTOGRAPHY
Department of Geodesy and Geoinformation
62%
nevercontributed
19%
14%Of all
registered
members
of OSM...
89%of all
changesets
9%
2%
created
5%
Data from
Neis & Zipf [2012]
*What isVGI? VGI is short forVolunteered Geographic Information – a term coined by Michael Good-
child [2007] to describe the creation of geographic data outside of professional routines. Examples for VGI
projects are OpenStreetMap or Google Map Maker. In our study, we concentrate on OpenStreetMap (OSM).
WHY?
They found OSM interesting
enough to register.
Why did they not contribute?
To find out about barriers for contributing we
conducted an online survey in February 2013.
Here is who participated according to experience
level and gender:
0
50
100
150
200
250
I don‘t know
OSM (n=33)
I know OSM,
but I never
contributed
(n=169)
I have an OSM
account, but I
hardly ever
contributed
(n=56)
I used to be
active, but I am
not anymore
(n=43)
I am currently
active in OSM
(n=215)
Numberofparticipants
females
n/a
males
These are the groups we asked about
barriers for not
contributing (anymore)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Unfriendly or hostile communication.
Edits are not visible on the map.
I lost interest in the aims of OSM.
Help and support are insufficient/confusing.
Lack of communication/interaction with community members.
I am afraid to do something wrong.
In my work/project I don't need OSM anymore.
Editing is too complex.
I forgot about it.
Map seems complete in my area.
Contributing is too time consuming.
Percentage
No significant differences between the three experience-groups were found.
The results also indicate no gender-related differences.
Many thanks to the OpenStreetMap
community and all participants of our
online survey!
References
Goodchild, M.F. (2007) Citizens as sensors:The world of
volunteered geography. GeoJournal 2007, 69, 211–221.
Neis, P., & Zipf,A. (2012) Analyzing the contributor activ-
ity of a volunteered geographic information project—The case of
OpenStreetMap. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information,
1(2), 146-165.
Manuela Schmidt, Silvia Klettner
Vienna University of Technology
Renate Steinmann
Salzburg Research Forschungsgesellschaft
Poster by @lesewesen
http://cartography.tuwien.ac.at/fem2map/
This study was kindly supported by the Austrian Ministry for Transport, Innovation
and Technology (BMVIT) within the research program FEMtech fFORTE.
Here are the weighted answers to what might
motivate them to contribute (again)
Moreprofileoptions
(e.g.networkingandsharing)
Improved help and support options
Positive feedback / rewards for editing
Mapping with other people, indoors
Mapping with other people, outdoors
A more user-friendly interface
Dedicated tutorial for beginners
Lesstime-consuming
mappingsolutions(e.g.smartphoneapp)
Mapping for a
dedicated purpose(e.g. crisis mapping)