A partnership between the British Library, Klokan Technologies, and the Moravian Library aims to improve crowdsourced georeferencing using the Georeferencer tool. Georeferencer allows libraries to provide scanned maps online and crowdsource the addition of geographic metadata. It has been successfully piloted at the British Library, where over 700 maps were assigned spatial metadata by around 90 participants in just 5 days through social media promotion and competitive features. The tool integrates with existing online collections and delivers enriched geographic data back to the libraries.

1. A British Library / Klokan Technologies / Moravian Library partnership
Improvements to crowdsourced georeferencing
using Georeferencer, and its implementation at
the British Library
Petr Pridal, Managing Director, Klokan Technologies GmbH
Kimberly C. Kowal, Lead Curator Digital Mapping, The British Library
Vaclav Klusak, Moravian Library

2. Georeferencer
• Work by Klokan Technologies and the
Moravian Library, part of the TEMAP.cz
project.
• A free, on-line tool for georeferencing of map
images already published on the web in
digital repositories.
• Provides metadata enrichment and crowd-
sourcing ability to libraries and other
institutions for their scanned maps.

3. Workflow
• The library provides data for their map
collection in the form of an Excel of CSV file
(identifier, link to zoomable image,
metadata).
• Members of the general public work on
georeferencing these maps through a
customized web interface.
• The library receives geographical
coordinates for their maps, usable eg. in
MapRank Search.

4. Principles
• We use the original image repository.
Integration & full credit (institution logo).
• We provide customized design, progress
indicators, eye-catching graphs, live widgets,
and 3D visualizations (Google Earth) to
motivate collaborators.
• We are able to deliver geodata or WMS
service for the maps.

5. Status
• Stable. Work in progress.
• Public version at www.georeferencer.org.
• New features public soon:
–Improved design for the user interface
–Browser plugins (Chrome/Firefox/..)
–Authentication with Google/Facebook/Twitter
• Pilots in libraries
–Customized design & crowd-sourcing widgets
–Integration with library web, export for lib. catalog

6. Quick Facts
• 725 maps assigned spatial metadata
• finished in 5 days: 13-18 February 2012
• Publicity minimal – social media *key*
• ~90 participants
• Top five completed half the work
• Data quality good: <3% had errors >.
005

7. Ordnance Survey
drawings
Original large-scale drawings
made for the famous one-inch-to-
the-mile maps. England and
Wales, 1780-1840.
Part of Staffordshire Containing 100 Square Miles
Surveyed by Mr Field and Drawn by Mr Stevens
(detail). Pen and ink on paper. 1817.
British Library shelfmark: OSD 210.
Crace Collection
of maps of London
Illustrating development of the city and its immediate
vicinity from ca 1570 - 1860
BAYNARDS CASTLE AND FARINGDON WARD WITHIN with their
Divisions into Parishes according to a new SURVEY. (detail). Cole, B.
engraver. 1754. 7
British Library shelfmark: Maps Crace VIII.25

8. http://maps.bl.uk
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9. http://player.vimeo.com/video/36419466

10. http://maps.bl.uk
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22. Competitive
Crowdsourcing
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25. (20 maps)
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26. What made it work…
Content relevant
Accessibility and convenience of application
Activity engaging
Immediate results and feedback
Competitive crowdsourcing tools
Recognition and visible overall contribution

27. Thank you.
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