Chronology: Data-driven Sports Image Indexing Research

Introduction

This chronology reports on research (theory, empirical, and grant/patent related), teaching, service, and entrepreneurial activities investigating data-driven sports image indexing that were led by Steven L. MacCall, PhD, associate professor in the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) at the University of Alabama since 2013.

Indexing research is a long standing area for information science investigators. Applications of such research include the improvement of systems design (efficiency and effectiveness) as well as informing the teaching of information professionals to better prepare them for the technological intensities of the modern metadata work environment. In a professional school such as SLIS, it is vitally important that full time faculty members have teaching and service activities informed by their research.

Current Research Questions

One would expect that research questions would evolve over time, and in that spirit, these are the present day global research questions presently currently under investigation in this research program:

1. Effectiveness: Can data-driven indexing methods serve a maximal indexing objective in which all identifiable named entities are indexed based on all of their observable features and attributes?
2. Efficiency: Can data-driven indexing methods scale to meet the maximal indexing objective and also match the rate in which current sports images (photo and video) that are captured by digital cameras and historical sports images (photo and video) that are digitized from the historical record?
3. Integration: Can current born digital sports images and digitized historical images be indexed in such a way that results in a single database application rather than in multiple silos?

Working Demonstrations and Notable Research Accomplishment Milestones

2017 alabama football season semantically indexed using play-by-play data developed pipeline for transition JSON-encoded play-by-play 1992 Alabama football season: semantically indexed two games (funded by RGC grant - see entry for grant under 2018 below rovered approx XX% of plays recovered approx XX of plays 1961 Alabama recovered app recover app Dealth with a special situation (Iron Bowl) demonstration of integration

Chronology of Research, etc Outputs

The entries below are inverse chronologically and are coded as follows:

1. RESEARCH
   1. RESEARCH - Theory
   2. RESEARCH - Empirical
   3. RESEARCH - Patent activity/actions
   4. RESEARCH - Grant activity
2. TEACHING
3. SERVICE
4. Entrepreneurial activity

epiphany

2020

MacCall, S.L. (2020). Systems and methods for digital asset organization. U.S . Patent number 10,534,812.

MacCall, S.L. (In review). Data-driven semantic DAM indexing incorporating statistical play-by-play game logs: A linked data application using Wikibase from the 2017 football season of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Conference paper submitted to 2020 LD4 Conference on Linked Data in Libraries, College Station, TX.

MacCall, S.L., Liu, H., & Anderson, C.M. (In review). Statistical data recovery from historical documentation of Alabama football games using Wikibase as a repository. Conference paper submitted to Connecting Collections as Data: Transforming Communities, Sharing Knowledge, and Building Networks with International GLAM Labs, Washington, DC.

2019

Anderson, C.M., Liu, H., & MacCall, S.L. (2019). Crowdsourcing in a semantic indexing workflow for efficiently organizing historical multimedia sports collections. Poster accepts for the 2020 Annual Meeting of the Alabama Library Association, Birmingham, AL.

MacCall, S.L., Liu, H., & Anderson, C.M. (2019). How much statistical data can be recovered from Alabama football history? Piloting a crowdsourced approach using Wikibase as data repository. Conference paper presented at 2019 Digitorium Digital Humanities Conference, Tuscaloosa, AL. [UA Institutional Repository deposit: https://ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/6574]

2018

MacCall, S.L. (2018). Investigation of a data-driven indexing method for multimedia asset collections in sports: Phase 2: Developing SLIS research capacity for key linked open data technologies. University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies Research Fund -$1,000. Funded.

MacCall, S.L., & Bott, G. (2018). Investigation of a data-driven indexing method for multimedia asset collections in sports: Phase 1: How much data can be recovered from Alabama football history? University of Alabama Office of Research and Development Research Grants Committee Level 1 Program - $6,000. Funded

2016

MacCall, S.L., McMillan, D.J., Vargo, C.J., Bradley, S.B., & Aversa, E.A. (2016). Efficiency, integration, interoperability: A 21st century approach to organizing sports digital assets for all libraries. Knight Foundation’s News Challenge for Libraries: How Might Libraries Serve 21st Century Information Needs? - pre-budget grant submission. Not funded.

2015

MacCall, S.L. (Filed December 15, 2015). Systems and methods for digital asset organization. U.S. Utility Patent Application number 14/971,463.

MacCall, S.L., Vargo, C.J., Bradley, S.B., & Aversa, E.A. (2015). Development of a novel digital asset organizing method in sports. National Science Foundation - Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Grant - $225,000 ($74,925 sub-award to University of Alabama). Not funded.

2014

MacCall, S.L. [Chief Scientist for MaxOrg, LLC], Aversa, E.A. [CEO for MaxOrg, LLC], & McMillan, D.J. [Technology Officer for MaxOrg, LLC]. (2014, 2015, 2016). Crimson Canvas - MaxOrg, LLC. Program participation: Commercial Development of Faculty Developed UA Intellectual Property sponsored by Alabama Innovation and Mentoring of Entrepreneurs (AIME).

MaxOrg, LLC formed as a faculty-led startup to contribute to the commercial development of UA intellectual property (see 2020 and 2015 entries above for patent issued and patent filed data respectively)

2013

MacCall, S.L. & Gaddy, K. (2013). Optimal organizing of digital images in sports: A project of the Paul W. Bryant Museum and UA SLIS. Presented at the 2013 University of Alabama Program in Sports Communication Sports Symposium, Tuscaloosa, AL. [Slideshare: http://tinyurl.com/k875g5j]