Geografie 2013, 118, 284-307
Searching for Czech towns by Google users
Selected web search engines provide statistics regarding user activities according to the topic, time, and optionally, location of the search. The statistics provided by Google Insights for Search (Google Trends) for the names of Czech cities as parts of online queries within a six-year period were explored and analysed according to their frequency and associated topics. This data is calibrated using a system of etalons. The distribution of Czech city search results between resident and non-resident users is estimated using associated topics and the location of the origin of the query. The frequency of search for Brno and Olomouc provide highly above-average results. Most of the other regional centres show a slightly above-average frequency of search. Ostrava, České Budějovice and Ústí nad Labem are among the below-average searched cities. The paper introduces a new data source, recommends its appropriate processing, explains pros and cons, and comments on possible issues.
