Algorithmic Geographies: Big Data, Algorithmic Uncertainty, and the Production of Geographic Knowledge.

Drawing on examples from human mobility research, I argue in this article that the advent of big data has significantly increased the role of algorithms in mediating the geographic knowledge production process. This increased centrality of algorithmic mediation introduces much more uncertainty to th...

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Publicado en:Annals of the American Association of Geographers Vol. 106; no. 2; pp. 274 - 283
Autor principal: Kwan, Mei-Po
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Mar2016
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: Algorithmic Geographies: Big Data, Algorithmic Uncertainty, and the Production of Geographic Knowledge.
      aug:
        au: Kwan, Mei-Po
        affil: Department of Geography and Geographic Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
      su:
        Geography
        Information & communication technologies
        Big data
        Algorithms
        Data analysis
        Data protection
        Evolutionary algorithms
      sug:
        subj:
          Geography
          Information & communication technologies
          Big data
          Algorithms
          Data analysis
          Data protection
          Evolutionary algorithms
      keyword:
        algorithmic geographies
        algorithms
        big data
        geographic knowledge
        human mobility
        algoritmos
        conocímiento geográfico
        geografías algorítmicas
        movilidad humana
        algoritmos
        conocimiento geográfico
        geografías algorítmicas
        movilidad humana
        人类能动性
        地理知识
        大数据
        演 算法
        演算地理
        algorithmic geographies
        algorithms
        big data
        geographic knowledge
        human mobility
        algoritmos
        conocímiento geográfico
        geografías algorítmicas
        movilidad humana
        algoritmos
        conocimiento geográfico
        geografías algorítmicas
        movilidad humana
        人类能动性
        地理知识
        大数据
        演 算法
        演算地理
      ab: Drawing on examples from human mobility research, I argue in this article that the advent of big data has significantly increased the role of algorithms in mediating the geographic knowledge production process. This increased centrality of algorithmic mediation introduces much more uncertainty to the geographic knowledge generated when compared to traditional modes of geographic inquiry. This article reflects on important changes in the geographic knowledge production process associated with the shift from using traditional "small data" to using big data and explores how computerized algorithms could considerably influence research results. I call into question the much touted notion of data-driven geography, which ignores the potentially significant influence of algorithms on research results, and the fact that knowledge about the world generated with big data might be more an artifact of the algorithms used than the data itself. As the production of geographic knowledge is now far more dependent on computerized algorithms than before, this article asserts that it is more appropriate to refer to this new kind of geographic inquiry as algorithm-driven geographies (or algorithmic geographies) rather than data-driven geography. The notion of algorithmic geographies also foregrounds the need to pay attention to the effects of algorithms on the content, reliability, and social implications of the geographic knowledge these algorithms help generate. The article highlights the need for geographers to remain attentive to the omissions, exclusions, and marginalizing power of big data. It stresses the importance of practicing critical reflexivity with respect to both the knowledge production process and the data and algorithms used in the process.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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