Lab 3: Neogeography

View Ethnic Enclaves in Southern California in a larger map

My mashup contains information on the ethnic enclaves around and about Los Angeles. View the map of ethnic enclaves here. As a multicultural and multiethnic city, Los Angeles composes of the largest population of certain communities outside their respective homelands (i.e. Cambodians in Long Beach or Tahai population in Los Angeles). Often, an immigrant group's presence in a region results in the revitalization of the area. This map explores the overall significance and historical settlement of immigrants in Los Angeles, as well as visually gives us an understanding of behavior patterns. We may ask ourselves the following questions: where do immigrant groups tend to congregate? What are particular reasons for their settlement in a region? How does this area reflect their cultural values and sociopolitical circumstances?

Neogeography is both interactive and user-friendly, allowing people to create maps based on their own terms, experiences, and categories. Its accessibility to the public also increases spatial awareness and understanding for all people. In this respect, the roles of maps and geography will be integral in shaping GPS and data analyses in forthcoming years. For instance, mapping relevant information (such as locations of McDonald’s across the nation) in a geobrowser effectively organizes information relating to people—their lifestyles, preferences and overall welfare.

Despite the accessibility and convenience of neogeography, there are multiple pitfalls and challenges. For instance, neogeography brings about the issue of bias and exclusivity. Someone who creates a map based on a personal interest (i.e. McDonald’s) will intentionally exclude pertinent information (i.e. other fast food restaurants). For viewers choosing fast food locations, they will only see a certain angle or aspect of fast food restaurants—contingent on the creator of the map. Moreover, neogeographers are not professional nor are they credible; they are everyday people who do not know the technical functions of mapping. In this regard, maps may be inaccurate, ambiguous, or wrong. There are not any regulations or confirmation of validity for these maps; they can misleadingly pass as truth in false light.

Additionally, neogeography may infringe on privacy. As evident in the mashup of Proposition 8 supporters and donors, such maps provide personal information to the public and may also result in violence, hate mail, and other such vices. Names and addresses can thus result in detrimental safety for people identified in the mashup. Likewise, users of maps may be confined with the limited existing tools to create their maps. Integrating a multimedia walking tour in Westwood online may be impossible due to the restrictions of programs (i.e. Google). In this sense, users must rely on the development of the program to advance their projects.

Nevertheless, neogeography allows people across the world to take ownership of their environment. By creating accessibility, users can selectively design their maps to exchange information, provide context, and spread awareness.