Using OpenStreetMap point-of-interest data to model urban change-A feasibility study

PLoS One. 2019 Feb 25;14(2):e0212606. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212606. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

User-generated content is a valuable resource for capturing all aspects of our environment and lives, and dedicated Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) efforts such as OpenStreetMap (OSM) have revolutionized spatial data collection. While OSM data is widely used, considerably little attention has been paid to the quality of its Point-of-interest (POI) component. This work studies the accuracy, coverage, and trend worthiness of POI data. We assess the accuracy and coverage using another VGI source that utilizes editorial control. OSM data is compared to Foursquare data by using a combination of label similarity and positional proximity. Using the example of coffee shop POIs in Manhattan we also assess the trend worthiness of OSM data. A series of spatio-temporal statistical models are tested to compare change in the number of coffee shops to home prices in certain areas. This work overall shows that, although not perfect, OSM POI data and specifically its temporal aspect (changeset) can be used to drive urban science research and to study urban change.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Data Curation*
  • Geographic Information Systems*
  • Humans
  • Urban Renewal*

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Department of Defense grant HM02101410004; the National Science Foundation, Grant No. 1637541; and George Mason University, Presidential graduate research scholarship. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.