QUT researchers to use big data to map G20

QUT researchers will use big data to map social media reactions to the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brisbane this weekend.

The university’s Social Media Research Group will geomap Brisbane-based G20-related social media activity onto an interactive map of the city.

Queensland police have warned Brisbane residents to expect disruption to public transport, roads and parking within the CBD and South Bank areas. One goal of the mapping project is to see how and where discussions about mobility, accessibility, safety and security are held.

Lead researcher Dr Peta Mitchell said the project will also seek to collect reactions to G20 cultural activities within the city, as well as political commentary and celebrity-spotting.

A challenge with the project will be that only 1-3% of Twitter users turn on their location services feature, she said. “[This] means I'll need to look at the content of each tweet to glean information about where that user was standing when they sent it.”

The researchers also plan to use geotagged Instagram photos for the project, as well as delegates’ tweets using G20-related hashtags. Tweets and photos will be displayed, with usernames removed, on the interactive map.

Mitchell said the project will serve as a test bed for future large-scale events. “From a pure research point of view, I want to know how a disruptive event like the G20 affects people’s mobility and how it changes their perspective of Brisbane,” she said.

“Brisbane City Council has set clear aspirations for being: an accessible, connected city; a friendly, safe city; and a New World City. The G20 is an extremely prestigious event that may put those aspirations at odds with each other.”

The interactive map can be viewed here.

Pictured: QUT's Dr Peta Michell