Sabine Hennig
Austrian Academy of Sciences, GIScience, Faculty Member
- Geography, Urban Studies, SDI (Spatial Data Infrastructure), RECREATION, Visitor Attraction Development and Management, Nature-Based Sport, and 16 moreEcotourism, Nature-based tourism, Responsible Tourism, Slow Travel, E Inclusion, National Park, Visitor management, Visitor Monitoring, Geocommunication, E.accessibility, Web Maps, Geoportal, Erholungsnutzung, Education, Development Studies, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)edit
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Basemaps created for the AccessibleMap pilot meeting the needs of users suffering from slight to moderate visual impairment (a, b, c) and of colorblind users (d, e, f): a) with large font size and line width and area feature aggregation;... more
Basemaps created for the AccessibleMap pilot meeting the needs of users suffering from slight to moderate visual impairment (a, b, c) and of colorblind users (d, e, f): a) with large font size and line width and area feature aggregation; b) with extra-large font size and line width and area feature aggregation; c) with extreme large font size and line width and area feature aggregation; d) Base map optimized for users suffering from protanopia; e) optimized for users suffering from deuteranopia; and f) optimized for users suffering from tritanoptia
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Contributory citizen science projects face challenges regarding data quantity and quality. To counteract this, the projects must be centred around citizen needs and preferences, while considering aspects such as the data contribution... more
Contributory citizen science projects face challenges regarding data quantity and quality. To counteract this, the projects must be centred around citizen needs and preferences, while considering aspects such as the data contribution process, including instructions, project promotion, information provision, feedback and recognition, and the design of the respective elements. Based on an understanding of the relevance of these issues affecting data contribution systems, we must determine which elements we can use to meet citizens’ needs and preferences and how to better tailor the system design to citizens’ requirements. The citizenMorph project, which aimed to create a pilot system for citizens to collect and report data on landforms, focused on the development of a citizen-centric system with elements that foster and encourage citizen engagement. We used a specifically conceived development workflow that combined participatory design with the prototyping model to involve citizen re...
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Citizen science, aiming at integrating citizens, their commitment and knowledge into scientific research, is a powerful way to create additional research outputs and scientific knowledge. This is particularly true when geospatial... more
Citizen science, aiming at integrating citizens, their commitment and knowledge into scientific research, is a powerful way to create additional research outputs and scientific knowledge. This is particularly true when geospatial technology is used to enable citizens to contribute spatial data. While fields such as biology and ecology make abundant use of geo citizen science, only a limited number of projects approach topics related to geomorphology. Due to climate change and its impact on the Earth’s surface, research activities that use citizen science are considered very useful to support the work of geomorphologists. However, geomorphology is a complex topic to engage with citizens. Thus, to reach and involve citizens in geomorphological research, we need spatial data collection tools that are tailored to their needs and raise their interest in geomorphology. For this, participatory design is a valuable option since it allows us to get comprehensive information about citizens an...
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OpenStreetMap (OSM) is known as the most successful application of VGI. The fact that it is based on user-generated content often leads to the common assumption that OSM data is neutral. These assumptions are legitimate, but the vast... more
OpenStreetMap (OSM) is known as the most successful application of VGI. The fact that it is based on user-generated content often leads to the common assumption that OSM data is neutral. These assumptions are legitimate, but the vast majority of OSM contributors are middle-aged, white, male users. Accordingly, OSM data represents the worldview of a delimited social group and therefore lags behind its actual potential regarding the richness and quality of data with regard to diversity. To overcome this, new and diverse user groups have to be recruited. It is therefore necessary to identify the challenges and barriers specific new user groups face. This chapter elucidates these mechanisms based on literature. Subsequently, the authors present a study with teacher training students that identifies challenges of new OSM users. The results indicate that there are three dimensions of potential barriers: the complexity of OSM, the user experience in OSM, and the user interface of OSM.
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Geospatial technologies and spatial data have increasingly become a key issue in our world with regard to digitalization. The ability and capability to handle spatial data products is a key competence in the 21st century. Accordingly,... more
Geospatial technologies and spatial data have increasingly become a key issue in our world with regard to digitalization. The ability and capability to handle spatial data products is a key competence in the 21st century. Accordingly, school education is an important domain to address these skills, but still lacks behind its actual potential - even if numerous concepts and approaches already exist. A promising means of addressing this issue is to actively involve schools in real-world GI projects. This paper sums up relevant educational approaches and concepts that are important for such initiatives and briefly describes four selected projects that were carried out in Austria. Based on the knowledge gained in these projects, challenges and benefits are presented, and the transferability and the potential of carrying out such projects in Uzbekistan is discussed.
1 ABSTRACT In the last years, advancement of digital technologies has led to the development of innovative information and communication applications. Today, geographical digital tools are closely linked to computer-based communication... more
1 ABSTRACT In the last years, advancement of digital technologies has led to the development of innovative information and communication applications. Today, geographical digital tools are closely linked to computer-based communication processes, and contemporary (Geo-)ICT is extensively used in a wide range of different applications. However, for taking full advantage of these tools across society-including special needs groups-manifold open issues still have to be considered referring to topics such as e-inclusion. Interest is rising on enabling visually impaired to make use of web map applications, especially web-based city maps. Due to demographic change-associated with the rapid aging of population and the increasing number of people with age-related visual impairment-this is particularly in recent times. Unfortunately, the access and use of currently available web map applications is difficult or even impossible for visually impaired. Hence, several questions pertaining to the...
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The provision of spatial data by the general public is of central importance to many projects. The success of these projects depends not at least on the target group’s motivation. But, what motivates people to contribute to web-based... more
The provision of spatial data by the general public is of central importance to many projects. The success of these projects depends not at least on the target group’s motivation. But, what motivates people to contribute to web-based geo-participation projects? How are the different motivations taken into account in the context of these projects? And which possibilities exist to consider participants’ motivations in the framework of geo participation projects in a better way? There are several intrinsic and extrinsic aspects mentioned in the literature that motivate people to participate in projects. The results of a survey addressing project managers in German speaking countries shows that, in particular, the possibilities to learn something new, to help and to do something meaningful are currently supported by web-based geo-participation projects.This is further underlined by the results of an analysis of web-based geo-participation applications. By a motivation design that takes ...
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Communication and information exchange is increasingly web2.0 mediated, networked and complex. The use and integration of a spatial reference to information, i.e. geomedia, has been gaining importance. As a consequence, these changes and... more
Communication and information exchange is increasingly web2.0 mediated, networked and complex. The use and integration of a spatial reference to information, i.e. geomedia, has been gaining importance. As a consequence, these changes and the potential of spatial representations to contextualize learning content account for an increasing relevance of geomedia in education. Based on these devlopments a concept of Spatially Enabled Learning makes use of web-based mapping to support interaction and communication in educational contexts via social geocommunication. It links social media with individual spatial representations. The purpose is to make learners capable to be ‘produsers’ (producer-users) of information with a spatial reference. This is supposed to be helpful in education and everyday life with regard to spatial citizenship, i.e. reflective and participatory practice. The idea of spatially enabled learning focuses on the vision to enhance both learning and teaching processes,...
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ABSTRACT Moderne Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie (IKT) spielt heute im Zusammenhang mit Web-2.0-Werkzeugen und mobilen Endgeräten in allen Lebensbereichen eine wichtige Rolle. Grundsätzlich eröffnet ihre Nutzung großes... more
ABSTRACT Moderne Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie (IKT) spielt heute im Zusammenhang mit Web-2.0-Werkzeugen und mobilen Endgeräten in allen Lebensbereichen eine wichtige Rolle. Grundsätzlich eröffnet ihre Nutzung großes Potenzial: Nutzer können besser und umfassender informiert werden, es kann mit ihnen interaktiv in Austausch getreten werden und sie können (leichter) in Entscheidungsprozesse involviert werden. Diese Aspekte sind auch für Großschutzgebiete bedeutsam, da Informations- und Kommunikationsarbeit im Rahmen von Zielsetzungen wie Bilden und Erholen einen zentralen Stellenwert einnimmt. Doch wie ist der momentane Stand der Nutzung von modernen IKT in Großschutzgebieten? Wie wird das bestehende Potenzial genutzt? Welche Empfehlungen können weitergehend für den Einsatz moderner IKT durch Großschutzgebiete ausgesprochen werden? Diesen Fragen wird am Beispiel von Großschutzgebieten in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz (DACH) nachgegangen. Modern Information and Communication Technology in Large Protection Areas – Use and significance in the ’DACH’-region Modern information and communication technology (ICT) has gained an important role in the context of Web 2.0 tools and mobile terminals in all areas of life. Generally their utilisation offers a large potential: users can receive better and more comprehensive information, the tools allow interactive processes and users can be better involved into decision-making processes. These aspects are also important for large protection areas since information and communication processes play a decisive role in the context of targets such as education and recreation. What is the current state of ICT use in large protection areas? How has the existing potential been used? Which recommendations can be given for the application of modern ICT in large protection areas? The study investigates these questions using the example of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH).
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Bei Planungen und Management naturbezogener Erholung sind Menschen mit Behinderung und ihre Anforderungen zu berücksichtigen. Der barrierefreien Gestaltung von Infrastrukturen kommt zentrale Bedeutung zu, damit diese Zielgruppe sich in... more
Bei Planungen und Management naturbezogener Erholung sind Menschen mit Behinderung und ihre Anforderungen zu berücksichtigen. Der barrierefreien Gestaltung von Infrastrukturen kommt zentrale Bedeutung zu, damit diese Zielgruppe sich in der freien Natur erholen kann. Empfehlungen hierzu sind umfassend in der Literatur beschrieben. Doch ist für Menschen mit Behinderung die Bereitstellung barrierefreier Infrastrukturen allein genug, um ihnen die Teilhabe an naturbezogener Erholung zu ermöglichen? Dieser Frage wurde in dem Projekt senTOUR nachgegangen. Erhebungen und Analysen zu Anforderungen an Infrastrukturen der naturbezogenen Erholung zeigen, dass die Zielgruppe spezielle Elemente benötigt. Außerdem ist die Vernetzung der einzelnen, barrierefrei gestalteten Elemente und die Bereitstellung barrierefrei zugänglicher Informationen (im Vorfeld und während Ausflügen) relevant. Damit die Bedürfnisse der Zielgruppe nicht nur umfassend verstanden und berücksichtigt, sondern auch in geeigneten Lösungen umgesetzt werden können, ist die Zusammenarbeit zwischen den verschiedenen Akteuren (Erholungsgebiete, Dienstleister und Zielgruppe etc.) unter Einsatz unterschiedlicher Methoden zielführend.
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Erholung in Natur und Landschaft geht oft mit Belastungen derselben einher. Um diese zu verringern oder gar zu verhindern, können Infrastrukturen eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Bei Entscheidungen zur infrastrukturellen Ausstattung und... more
Erholung in Natur und Landschaft geht oft mit Belastungen derselben einher. Um diese zu verringern oder gar zu verhindern, können Infrastrukturen eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Bei Entscheidungen zur infrastrukturellen Ausstattung und Gestaltung wird im Tourismus oft auf das Konzept der touristischen Servicekette zurückgegriffen. Das Konzept bietet sich auch an, um Infrastrukturen dahingehend zu überprüfen, inwieweit sie das naturverträgliche Verhalten von Besuchern unterstützen und um Verbesserungsmöglichkeiten aufzuzeigen. In diesem Beitrag wird die Verwendung des Konzepts der touristischen Servicekette im Kontext der Überprüfung kanutouristischer Infrastrukturen an der Wiesent vorgestellt. Dabei zeigt sich, dass anhand der touristischen Servicekette der Blick auf das Ganze gelenkt und nicht nur einzelne Infrastrukturen oder Standorte fokussiert werden können. Defizite und Verbesserungsmöglichkeiten, die sich – speziell bei bereits guter infrastruktureller Ausstattung – nicht unbedingt auf den ersten Blick erschließen, können so identifiziert werden. Zwei Verbesserungsmöglichkeiten an der Wiesent sind die Bereitstellung a) einer lückenlosen Informationskette sowie b) angemessen dimensionierter Infrastrukturen an kanutouristisch geeigneten Standorten.
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In allen Bereichen unseres Lebens und quer durch alle Bevölkerungsschichten finden moderne Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien (IKT) heute breite Verwendung. Informations-und Kommunikationsprozesse werden dabei durch... more
In allen Bereichen unseres Lebens und quer durch alle Bevölkerungsschichten finden moderne Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien (IKT) heute breite Verwendung. Informations-und Kommunikationsprozesse werden dabei durch Möglichkeiten der Partizipation und Interaktion ergänzt. Dies ist insbesondere der wachsenden Anzahl an leicht bedienbaren Web 2.0-Applikationen geschuldet, die auf Desktop-PCs und mobilen Endgeräten genutzt werden. Auch für Großschutzgebiete eröffnet sich durch die Nutzung moderner IKT umfangreiches Potenzial. Dies gilt vor allem für die Zielsetzungen Erholen und Bilden, in deren Kontext Informations- und Kommunikationsprozesse einen zentralen Stellenwert einnehmen. Während im Tourismus- und Bildungssektor moderne IKT längst etabliert sind und vielfach von Erholen 2.0 bzw. Bilden 2.0 gesprochen wird, stellt sich die Frage, welche Rolle moderne IKT in Großschutzgebieten diesbezüglich gegenwärtig spielen. Dies wird am Beispiel von Nationalparken, Naturparken und...
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During recent years spatial data infrastructure (SDI) concepts have developed towards user-centered initiatives, whose creation is strongly driven by user requirements. Closely related to (user-centric) SDIs is the vision of spatially... more
During recent years spatial data infrastructure (SDI) concepts have developed towards user-centered initiatives, whose creation is strongly driven by user requirements. Closely related to (user-centric) SDIs is the vision of spatially enabled societies where access to and use of spatial data is regarded as relevant support for everyone to organize their activities. Both user-centric SDI models and the concept of spatially enabled societies focus on large and diverse user communities encompassing, besides public and private sector organizations, the general public as well. Although the benefits of spatial data use for professional reasons are widely recognized, awareness of the potential advantages for private life such as activities related to citizenship (civic duties and rights) has only recently been raised. Nevertheless, most citizens, as non-professionals regarding spatial data use, face difficulties when carrying out tasks related to the use of resources provided by a SDI. Whi...
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Communication and information exchange is increasingly web2.0-mediated, networked and complex. The use and integration of a spatial reference to information, i.e. geomedia, have been gaining importance. These changes and the potential of... more
Communication and information exchange is increasingly web2.0-mediated, networked and complex. The use and integration of a spatial reference to information, i.e. geomedia, have been gaining importance. These changes and the potential of spatial representations to contextualize learning content account for an increasing relevance of geomedia in education as well. Based on these developments, 'Spatially-Enabled Learning' makes use of web-based mapping to support interaction and communication in educational contexts via 'Social Geocommunication', linking social media with individual spatial representations. The purpose is to enable learners to be 'produsers' (producer-users) of information with a spatial reference. This is helpful in education and everyday life with regard to Spatial Citizenship, i.e. reflective and participatory practice. After stating the theoretical backgrounds of Social Geocommunication and Spatially-Enabled Learning, this paper will outlin...
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Seniorinnen und Senioren werden immer mehr zu aktiven Touristen und sind schon heute eine wesentliche Zielgruppe des Tourismus. Aufgrund besserer und längerer Gesundheit, höherer Lebenserwartung und des Wunsches nach Aktivbleiben, nehmen... more
Seniorinnen und Senioren werden immer mehr zu aktiven Touristen und sind schon heute eine wesentliche Zielgruppe des Tourismus. Aufgrund besserer und längerer Gesundheit, höherer Lebenserwartung und des Wunsches nach Aktivbleiben, nehmen ältere Menschen häufiger an Freizeitaktivitäten in der Natur teil als noch vor wenigen Jahrzehnten. Gleichzeitig besteht auch der Anspruch auf barrierefreie, leicht zugängliche (mobile) Informationsservices in Form von webbasierten Diensten. Das Projekt SenTOUR hat daher zum Ziel, Seniorinnen und Senioren bestehende räumliche Vor-Ort-Informationen zu Infrastrukturen und Angeboten über einen seniorengerechten Zugang zu vermitteln. Moderne Informationstechnologien wie Location-based Services (LBS) und mobile Endgeräte ebenso wie angepasste Onlineanwendungen finden dabei ihren Einsatz. Am Beispiel des Nationalparks Gesäuse wird ein prototypisches Informationsportal entwickelt, dessen zentrale Komponente eine interaktive und dynamische Nationalparkkarte...
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1 ABSTRACT Accessibility is a topic of increasing importance concerning all fields of life. This is underlined by current legislation as well as social meaning and economic benefits related to accessibility. Due to recent demographic... more
1 ABSTRACT Accessibility is a topic of increasing importance concerning all fields of life. This is underlined by current legislation as well as social meaning and economic benefits related to accessibility. Due to recent demographic changes in society characterised by steadily growing numbers of the elderly (with age-related physical deficits), enabling people with disabilities to manage their everyday independently gets even more important. However, in order to fully participate in life self-determined, the disabled demand for barrier free infrastructure in many ways. This is particularly true in terms of tourist and recreational activities in natural areas. At that, positive effects of being in nature (e.g. on people's physical health and mental well-being as well as integration and family solidarity) are even more relevant for disabled people than for others. While many efforts exist on offering and improving barrier free services and facilities on-site, it seems that there ...
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In den osterreichischen Nationalparkgesetzen ist als einer der wichtigsten Grundsatze die Erlebbarkeit und Zuganglichkeit von Nationalparken mit Moglichkeiten bzgl. Bildung und Erholung festgelegt. Die Zuganglichkeit soll zudem fur alle... more
In den osterreichischen Nationalparkgesetzen ist als einer der wichtigsten Grundsatze die Erlebbarkeit und Zuganglichkeit von Nationalparken mit Moglichkeiten bzgl. Bildung und Erholung festgelegt. Die Zuganglichkeit soll zudem fur alle Menschen moglich sein, was aufgrund der teilweise schwierigen naturlichen Gegebenheiten dieser Gebiete und der fehlenden Barrierefreiheit ihrer naturraumlichen und baulichen Infrastrukturen eine grose Herausforderung darstellt, vor allem fur altere Menschen. Eine durchgehend barrierefreie Mobilitatskette ist jedoch vor allem fur Menschen mit Beeintrachtigungen notwendig, weil diese Nationalparke sonst gar nicht erst besuchen konnen. Das Projekt senTOUR versucht mit der seniorengerechten Kommunikation von Geoinformationen Hilfestellungen zu bieten und gleichzeitig auch fur andere Personengruppen Services zu bieten und somit die Forschung im Bereich der Barrierefreiheit weiter voranzutreiben.
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Digitale und v.a. interaktive Karten haben in den letzten Jahren zunehmend an Bedeutung gewonnen; sowohl im Alltag als auch in professionellen Kontexten und v.a. auch im (geographischen) Bildungsbereich. Im schulischen Umfeld geschah und... more
Digitale und v.a. interaktive Karten haben in den letzten Jahren zunehmend an Bedeutung gewonnen; sowohl im Alltag als auch in professionellen Kontexten und v.a. auch im (geographischen) Bildungsbereich. Im schulischen Umfeld geschah und geschieht dies meist uber digitale Globen und Geobrowser. Eine weitere innovative Option, digitale kartographische Medien im Schulunterricht oder in anderen Bildungsmasnahmen zu nutzen, sind interaktive Internetkarten und die damit in Zusammenhang stehenden WebMapping-Tools. Sie bieten neben unterschiedlichen Verfahren zur interaktiven Beschaftigung mit raumlichen Problemstellungen auch die Moglichkeit, Fahigkeiten im Umgang mit Geodaten und Geomedien zu fordern. In diesem Beitrag werden zum einen die stetig steigende Relevanz interaktiver Kartographie sowie Argumente und Vorteile fur den Einsatz von WebMapping im Bildungsbereich skizziert. Zum anderen werden Funktionalitaten und Eigenschaften ausgewahlter WebMapping-Anwendungen vorgestellt und verg...
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Projects that allow people to report spatially referenced data have become increasingly important in recent years. Studies show that the potential of such projects is often not fully exploited. But, how must such solutions substantiated... more
Projects that allow people to report spatially referenced data have become increasingly important in recent years. Studies show that the potential of such projects is often not fully exploited. But, how must such solutions substantiated to face this situation? Within the citizenMorph project, a framework is developed including various components addressing especially the requirements of the general public. The close cooperation between developers and citizen representatives in the development process shows that the provision of a data collection application alone is not sufficient. Rather, the implementation of an interactive system is necessary, which also includes an extended online presence and opportunities for “real world contacts” between the volunteers.