No abstract

No abstract

Abstract:The introduction of web based mapping facilities that use satellite imagery, offers local people the possibility to map their environment. However, maps need to be accurate, which is the reason why map making is assigned to professionals. In this paper, we investigated the classification accuracy of road infrastructure from high resolution satellite imagery of an urban area in western Kenya achieved by surveyors and non-surveyors alike, with and without local knowledge. Those with local knowledge classified roads with over 92% accuracy on average, irrespective of surveying background. Professional surveyors and laymen without local knowledge achieved lower accuracies of 67.7% and 42.9% respectively. We argue that local knowledge is also likely to improve the classification accuracy of many other attributes featured in topographic maps and thus conclude that there is reason to consider engaging local expertise in the production and updating of topographic maps.

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the definition of a European perspective on Digital Earth (DE), identify some actions that can contribute to raise the awareness of DE in the European context and thus strengthen the European contribution to the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE). The paper identifies opportunities and synergies with the current policy priorities in Europe (Europe 2020, Innovation Union and Digital Agenda) and highlights a number of key areas to advance the development of DE from a European perspective: (1) integrating scientific research into DE; (2) exploiting the Observation Web with human-centred sensing; and (3) governance, including the establishment of stronger linkages across the European landscape of funding streams and initiatives. The paper is offered also as a contribution to the development of this new vision of DE to be presented at the next International DE Conference in Perth, Australia, in August 2011. The global recognition of this new vision will then reinforce the European component and build a positive feedback loop for the further implementation of DE across the globe.

No abstract