Monitoring the environment and human sentiment on the Great Barrier Reef: Assessing the potential of collective sensing. (1st December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Becken, Susanne; Stantic, Bela; Chen, Jinyan; Alaei, Ali Reza; Connolly, Rod M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 203:Part 1(2017)
• Page Start: 87
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2017-12-01
• Subjects: Environmental monitoring -- Social media -- Twitter -- Great Barrier Reef -- Sentiment analysis; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.07.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: With the growth of smartphone usage the number of social media posts has significantly increased and represents potentially valuable information for management, including of natural resources and the environment. Already, evidence of using 'human sensor' in crises management suggests that collective knowledge could be used to complement traditional monitoring. This research uses Twitter data posted from the Great Barrier Reef region, Australia, to assess whether the extent and type of data could be used to Great Barrier Reef organisations as part of their monitoring program. The analysis reveals that large amounts of tweets, covering the geographic area of interest, are available and that the pool of information providers is greatly enhanced by the large number of tourists to this region. A keyword and sentiment analysis demonstrates the usefulness of the Twitter data, but also highlights that the actual number of Reef-related tweets is comparatively small and lacks specificity. Suggestions for further steps towards the development of an integrative data platform that incorporates social media are provided. Highlights: The geographic spread of Twitter posts makes them useful for environmental research. A critical mass of tweets is obtained in regions that are frequented by tourists. A small proportion of tweets refer to marine environmental conditions. Sentiment analysis is useful to monitor human perceptions of key marine targets. More environmental research using collective knowledge is warranted.