This week, I explored location analytics. This is data that is concerned with mapping, visualizing and mining the location of people’s data and other resources. Location Analytics allows apps to improve user experience and for brands to gain new insights on audiences and retarget with geolocation. Although there are many benefits for both consumers and brands, there are also privacy concerns that coincide with tracking locations and using that data to influence audiences.
To explore this topic further, I spent time creating a map using Google Maps. This mapping tool is populated through location analytics and provides data back to google and companies. I chose to map out my time participating in QU in LA. This program occurred last summer, as I spent 10 weeks working in the Los Angeles area. The layers I created were housing, activities, work, and food. I stayed in two locations during my time. This was important to my trip because where I stayed determined some of my activities and food choices. I also included an activities layer because we got to travel throughout LA rather than simply staying in one location. This also demonstrates the importance of having transportation because there were some long trips. Work was the third layer because it was an integral part of my experience. I worked 40 hours a week and as a result, I spent a lot of my time in the Burbank area. Finally, I added a food layer to show the variety of options that were located by work and where I stayed.