Spatial description of indoor space in Volunteered Geographic Information environments

Recently, different volunteered Geographic Information (VGI)databases and websites have been launched for a variety of purposes and different groups of users. Various groups and portals collect and share these data. Thus, there is a huge potential for the participation of millions of people who can act like remote sensors and share their data with other members of the group without any cost.Therefore,diffrent users with different skill levelscan provide spatial data through personalized measurements. Various research perspectives have shown that sometimes Volunteered Geographic Information can compete with business data.The present research seeks to solve the problems in searching and finding properties, and describe indoor space using visual components in web-basedplatforms. The impact of spatial information on satisfaction of residentsortheir problems has made this research especially important.Most of related studiessought to provide models for estimationof prices, and the impact of environmental factors on the price of real estates. They also have endeavored tocreate websites for residential real estatesearch with an emphasis on descriptive information.The present research seeks to describe indoor space of residential real estate using spatial tools.In this regard, criteria like height, dimensions, topological relationships, shape, color, geographic location, and directional relationships are considered.Description of residential properties’ indoor space requires information in both spatial and descriptive dimensions. Due to the especial potential of Geospatial Information System in the simultaneous visualization of spatial and descriptive information, spatial analysis was used in the present study.Clearly, any research is performed based on a set of presuppositions. Particularly when we seek to theoretically investigate a process like modeling or design an information system, the work scope will be very wide and serious challenges will occur without proper assumptions. The present study assumes equal spatial perception, verbal expression and visualizationabilityin all people. It is also assumed that all estate visitors havecell phones equipped with cameras and Global Positioning System and their response to qualitative relationships is better than that of quantitative relationships. Moreover,real estateis used as a synonym for apartmentin this research.

Considering the critical role of the ordinary users and the fact that survey processes are usually expensive and time consuming, volunteered spatial information environments are the most appropriate way of gathering people’s spatial perception. Not only these environments are rather easy to use, but also they simultaneously receive up-to-date information from the participant and provide them with appropriate services according to their status.After modeling and designing, the proposed systemwas implemented in Visual Studio 2012 platform using ASP.NET framework andC#language. Server Structured Query Language (SQL) Database 2012 was usedto save spatial information. Tehran District 14 (longitude: 51.46207, latitude: 35.66905) was chosen as the study area and data collected from several residential properties was recorded in our database.

Results indicate more than 65 percent conformity between the mental image generated using the proposed method and the reality. Users’ satisfaction with the proposed model was compared with their satisfaction with three popular Iranian sites, and a foreign site regarding. The impact of tools applied in these websites was also investigated. Results indicate 78.78% satisfaction with the proposed system, which is the highest level of satisfaction as compared to other studied websites.Moreover, compared to other toolsinvestigated in the present study,virtual tours and thenmaps are more in visualization.Sincespatial perceptions depends on various parameters such aspersonal interests, spatial dimensions, gender, age, education, culture, and fields of study, different groups were investigated in the present study.

Using information collected inVolunteered Geographic Informationenvironments, ordinary people can share information and use each other’s experiences and opinions. This improves their knowledge level and results in a better understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of different real estates. Due to increased knowledge level, people will not select undesirable properties. This will create a competitive market and increase designers and engineers’attention to indoor space, which will consequently increase ordinary users’welfare.