Public Participant Geographical Information Systems: Participation on the road to social sustainability

In this bachelor thesis the discourse of PPGIS will be mapped out both theoretically and empirically. I argue that participation is fundamental for social sustainability and that the emerging Neogeography field motivates citizen participation even more. The thesis explores the traditional disempowering views of GIS as it transforms into a tool for equality and empowerment of marginalized groups. Four different cases of PPGIS is examined and analysed through the theoretical framework ending in a review of PPGIS experiences so far, arguing that for a PPGIS project to be considered part of the social sustainability goals the communication within projects has to work two-ways. Discussion is a fundamental part of PPGIS but is sometimes forgotten when projects turn into pure intelligence gathering. I also argue that projects should not be viewed as single entities but parts of the bigger picture, not seen as isolated events but as on-going processes

To pave or not to pave: A social landscape analysis of land use decision-making in the Lamprey River watershed

Seacoast New Hampshire\u27s population has quadrupled in four decades resulting in sprawl and increased impervious surfaces which threaten the ecological health of Great Bay. Calls for watershed-based strategies addressing growth and land use planning abound. This study addresses these challenges by examining the question of whether there is a potential for watershed base land use decision-making. Using constructivist grounded theory, this study explores the social landscape of land use decision-making in a case study of the towns of the Lamprey River watershed. The qualitative methods include semi-structured interviews with GIS based maps and content analysis in NVivo software. Results include a proposed theoretical framework which characterizes the social landscape of land use decision-making concerning community, conflict and temporo-spatial scaling. Challenges and opportunities are also identified in moving towards watershed based land use decision-making. Conclusions represent a mix of optimistic and pessimistic themes regarding current land use decision-making and suggested recommendations necessary to move towards watershed-scaled land use planning

Point, polygon, or marker? In search of the best geographic entity for mapping cultural ecosystem services using the online public participation geographic information systems tool, “My Green Place”

The mapping of cultural ecosystem services through online public participation GIS (PPGIS) has predominantly relied on geographic entities, such as points and polygons, to collect spatial data, regardless of their limitations. As the potential of online PPGIS to support planning and design keeps growing, so does the need for more knowledge about data quality and suitable geographic entities to collect data. Using the online PPGIS tool, “My Green Place,” 449 respondents mapped cultural ecosystem services in Ghent by using all three geographic entities: point, polygon, and the novel “marker.” The three geographic entities’ accuracy was analyzed through a quadrat analysis, regressions against the collective truth, the Akaike information criterion, and a preference test based on the survey’s outcomes. The results show that the point reflects the weakest the collective truth, especially for mapping dynamic cultural practices, and the marker reflects it the strongest. The polygon’s performance compares to that of the marker’s, albeit slightly weaker. The marker delivers a more nuanced image of the respondents’ input, is simpler to use, and has less risk of spatial errors. Therefore, we suggest using the marker instead of the point and the polygon when collecting spatial data in future cultural ecosystem services research

Interactions between community traditions and geospatial technology in natural resource management: case studies from common property regimes in rural southern Mexico

Issues related to improving community participation and the effectiveness of green economy instruments are central to current debates regarding progress towards sustainable development. Information technology, such as Geographic Information Systems, may be able to play an important role in addressing these challenges. In this study an experiment with introducing geospatial technology was conducted with four rural communities at different levels of engagement with institutional frameworks of payments for ecosystem services in Chiapas, Mexico. The purpose was to examine the impacts of such an intervention and evaluate whether it had the potential to enhance collective understanding of natural resource management practices, lead to better shared decisions and enhance community social capital. By exploring the outcomes it was also possible to assess the conditions that enable or constrain such implementation processes. Five key themes (i.e. social structure, IT skills, participation in development, external relations and power structures) were identified in an evaluation framework informed by actor-network theory concepts, and these guided the collection of evidence and data analysis. The results indicated that all of these factors had some influence over the success of geospatial technology analysis transfer, with community political decisionmaking processes and previous involvement of external agents in local natural resource management activities being of particular importance

Development of a conceptual framework for the analysis and the classification of "Public Participation GIS"

Dans le contexte actuel de démocratisation des technologies et des méthodes géomatiques, les expériences du type « Public Participation GIS » - PPGIS se multiplient. Le concept de PPGIS est, par essence-même, interdisciplinaire et multiforme. Il s’apparente, d’une certaine façon, à un déclinaison spécifique des SIG, vus comme des systèmes d’information (données, matériels, logiciels, méthodes et composantes humaines), incluant la dimension de la participation publique. De fait, les PPGIS ne se limitent pas aux simples outils logiciels. L’objectif principal d’un PPGIS consiste à accentuer/supporter l'implication des citoyens dans les processus de prise de décisions territoriaux, et à améliorer l'accès aux outils, aux données ainsi qu’à l'information (Steinmann et. al. 2004). Les applications des PPGIS revêtent des formes très variées, selon le contexte économique, l’organisation sociale et politique, la culture, mais également en fonction des problématiques traitées et des méthodologies développées (Joliveau 2006). Les exemples mettent en évidence qu’en pratique, la dimension ‘participation publique’ des PPGIS renvoie à des réalités différentes. La construction du domaine des PPGISciences (Sieber 2004) est basée sur la convergence de concepts sociaux, culturels, éthiques et environnementaux avec les technologies de l’information et à la géomatique. Ce développement engendre des questions épistémologiques complexes, dans la mesure ou chaque discipline impliquée pose évidemment un regard différencié sur les PPGIS. Par conséquent, le concept même de PPGIS est ambigu. Il n'existe pas de consensus sur ses éléments caractéristiques. Ce constat pose problème, tant sur le plan scientifique que sur le plan pratique, dans la mesure où il rend difficile, non seulement la formalisation de méthodes de développement adaptées aux PPGIS ; mais aussi le développement de critères d'évaluation de succès et d'échec (Craig et al. 1999). La communauté scientifique des PPGIS considère d’ailleurs que pour comprendre la réalité sur laquelle les chercheurs doivent appuyer leurs travaux, la formalisation consensuelle d’une définition claire et précise du concept de PPGIS s’impose. Les spécialistes affirment que l’une des priorités actuelles est la conception d’un cadre théorique basé en particulier sur une typologie des PPGIS (Tulloch 2003, Steinmann et al. 2004). Malgré les quelques recherches déjà réalisées, seules quelques typologies partielles ont été développées, et le concept demeure flou. L’objectif principal de cette recherche consiste à concevoir une typologie plus globale à partir d’une analyse en profondeur des concepts sous-jacents. Sur le plan plus pratique, cette recherche vise à concevoir et à développer un observatoire web des expériences PPGIS (ce dernier étant à la fois une composante de l’objectif et un moyen de l’atteindre). La méthodologie est basée sur la construction d’un cadre théorique (analyse de la littérature et des typologies existantes) et une analyse empirique (étude d’une série d’expériences de PPGIS). La méthodologie est complétée par une enquête sur les forums web spécialisés, de manière à solliciter la communauté du domaine et à valider nos résultats. Cette recherche a ainsi permis de construire une typologie des PPGIS, plus globale, complémentaire de celles déjà existantes. Se faisant notre travail permet d’améliorer la compréhension de ce domaine en émergence et apporte des éléments formels permettant de mieux le caractériser.In the current context of democratization of technologies and methods of geomatics, “Public Participation GIS” practices - PPGIS multiply. The concept of PPGIS is, by its nature, interdisciplinary and multiform. It is connected, in a certain manner, to a specific variation of the GIS, understood as information systems (data, hardware, software, methods and human factor), including the dimension of public participation. Essentially, PPGIS are not limited to simple software tools. The principal objective of a PPGIS consists of accentuating/supporting the implication of the citizens in the territorial decision making processes, and to improve the access to tools, data, and information (Steinmann et al. 2004). Applications for PPGIS take a variety of forms depending on the economic context, the social and political organization, the culture, but also regarding to the treated problems and developed methodologies (Joliveau 2006). Examples underline that, in practice, dimension of “public participation” in PPGIS echoes different realities. The creation of the field (Sieber 2004) is based on the convergence of social concepts as well as cultural, ethical and environmental concepts associated with information technologies (IT) and Geomatics. This development generates complex epistemological questions, in a measure where each implied discipline obviously poses a different view on PPGIS. Consequently, the concept of PPGIS is ambiguous. There is no consensus on its characteristic elements. This circumstance causes some problems, both on the scientific and practical levels. It makes difficult, not having the standardization of methods of development adapted to the PPGIS; but also the development of evaluation criterions of success and failure (Craig and al 1999). Besides, the scientific community associated with PPGIS considers that in order to understand reality that the researchers must rely on their works, the agreed formalization of a clear and precise definition of the concept of PPGIS is inevitable. Specialists affirm that one of the current priorities is to design a theoretical framework particularly based on a typology of PPGIS (Tulloch 2003, Steinmann et al. 2004). In spite of some research work already carried out, only a few limited typologies were developed, and the concept remains unclear. The principal objective of this research consists of conceiving a more global typology starting from an in-depth analysis of the subjacent concepts. From a practical level, this research aims at designing and developing a web-based observatory of PPGIS experiments (this one is a component of our objective and at the same time a means of reaching it). Our methodology is based on the construction of a theoretical framework (literature review and an analysis of existing typologies) and an empirical analysis (study of a series of PPGIS experiments). Methodology is effectuated by an investigation into the specialized Web forums, so as to solicit the community of the field and to validate our results. This research thus made it possible to build a typology of the PPGIS, as a hole, complementary to those already existing. Doing this work improves understanding of this field in its infancy and elicits formal elements for better characterization of PPGIS

Cartographic Efficacy: Histories of the Present, Participatory Futures

Throughout history, maps have held a particularly potent ability to inform and persuade their users. Recognizing the power maps and their modes of productions possess, participatory mapping has been celebrated for its capacity to empower systemically disenfranchised communities by way of establishing inclusive pathways for influencing collection and representation of spatial information. What has remained largely periphery to considerations of participatory mapping, however, has been discussions of map design. Decades of scholarship in both traditional and critical veins of cartography, however, argue that it’s the careful execution of design choices that grant the map its power. Without attention to design, cartographers warn, the map will not be able to successfully communicate its intended message. However, even with little direct discussion of map design being reported, participatory mapping has a proven track record in an expansive range of locations and contexts of successfully supporting communities in advocating for their rights. As such, this dissertation takes up this disciplinary dissonance to explore what, ultimately, makes a map effective. Through content analysis of cartographic education materials, interviews with leaders of participatory mapping projects, and participant observation at national and international professional gatherings for cartographers, this research reveals an underlying tension between what informs the established understandings of effectiveness and how that effectiveness is achieved. Such tension can result in instances of disciplinary shaming and gatekeeping which, in turn, limit exchange of information and consequently prevented an evolution of the understandings of effectiveness. This dissertation calls for an expansion of the discipline’s framework of cartographic efficacy. I ultimately invite cartographers to allocate resources for understanding forms of efficacy that expand beyond traditional modalities in addition to making space for those who are not professionally trained cartographers to assert their ability to make effective maps and explore design principles with aplomb

The Practice of Neogeography in Community-Based Organizations

Neogeography and Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) are two terms that have emerged recently to describe the practice of geography by those not formally trained in it as a discipline and spatial data provided by individuals through social media and other Web-based tools. Both neogeography and VGI can be directly linked to the growth of various online mapping websites and applications that allow for the creation of electronic maps that are interactive, adaptable, and easily shared via the Internet and Web. As recent phenomena, the practice of neogeography and VGI is not well understood, nor are the links these new fields have to previously established knowledge on Geographic Information Systems and its associated practices. This thesis attempts to fill this knowledge gap through a participatory study of neogeographic practice. Using a participatory workshop format, I observed and documented representatives of community-based organizations in Syracuse, NY as they encountered online mapping tools for the first time. I followed up with two of those organizations in longer case studies to better understand how organizations with no obvious geographic focus come to see geography as a way of communicating complex ideas about space. This study revealed that while the technical complexity of the online mapping software continues to prove to be a hindrance to its use, there remains space for professional geographers to interact with laypeople who make maps. Furthermore, such engagement is necessary to begin to understand the issues involved with location-based information and privacy, access to data, and ability to use and communicate geographic concepts and knowledge

An approach to public involvement in forest landscape planning in Italy: a case study and its evaluation

In Italy, in the last decade, there have been both new social requests and an ever-increasing sensitivity towards the multiplicity of values attributed to forests. This has led to a profound revision of the structure of forest planning. This paper illustrates the planning system, characterised by a hierarchical approach, focusing on the upper level, that is Forest Landscape Management Plan (FLMP). At this level of planning, attention to the different needs and targets expressed by the population is considered of strategic importance and thus requires a participative attitude. In the first part of the paper the authors show the approach currently used in forest landscape planning, through a case study carried out in a rural area of the Appennine mountains, focusing in particular on the method established for the process of participation. In the second part, the quality of participation in the case study is analysed, after describing the methodology followed in order to identify a set of criteria for success, deemed particularly relevan

Sociotechnical co-production of planning information : opportunities and limits of crowdsourcing for the geography and planning of bicycle transportation

Urban planners deploy civic technologies to engage publics with digital tools in a relative vacuum of theory, understanding of challenges, or benefits. The issue, Lewis Mumford might have framed, could be of authoritarian and democratic technics—whether the technology contributes more to top-down control or bottom-up understanding. Building from collaborative planning theory, co-production suggests ways people can leverage technologies to build urban solutions with or without professional planners. Empirical research shows that crowdsourcing to address planning questions with digital civic platforms can help fill or mitigate information gaps, including support for bicycling as a safe and comfortable travel mode. However, no research has addressed how crowdsourced information for bicycle planning offers new insights for safety, the geography of participation, or how its social construction impacts its representation of bicycling in a community. A new framework for evaluating co-productive planning is proposed, considering legitimacy, accessibility, social learning, transparency, and representation (LASTR). This dissertation addresses these concerns of safety, geography, and social construction through the LASTR framework using mixed-methods case studies in Portland, Oregon, and Austin, Texas. Bicycle volumes and street ratings through the crowdsourcing platform, along with geographic information system environmental data, and interviews with thirty-three informants form the basis for evaluating these issues. Viewed from pragmatism and social construction of technology, the social processes of planning and technological developments are intertwined and traced in tandem. The first three chapters frame the problems, build a background in theory, and describe the research questions, planning contexts, and data for analysis. The next three chapters are empirical, evaluating the use of crowdsourced information for bicycle safety, comparing the geography of crowdsourced participation with in-person meetings from both cities’ most recent bicycle planning process, and tracing the sociotechnical representation of crowdsourcing bicyclist information through interviews and case materials. The final chapter summarizes the findings and implications for practice and research. This dissertation shows that the biased representation of bicycling in these two crowdsourcing cases pose opportunities to identify safer bicycling routes and expand public participation geographies, but could exacerbate problems with aligning public improvements with the users of a specific technological approach. Further, the construct of crowdsourcing for urban planning remains flexible and therefore merits further study and knowledge transfer for practitioners and students.Community and Regional Plannin

Participation technologies: a framework for the development of an online interactive GIS application

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are generally implemented in a top-down manner and do not inherently support public participation. It is believed that when these GIS applications are supported with collaboration and decision-aid tools this gap can be reduced. This study explores the participatory tools and technologies that support spatial decision making. A step by step process is proposed to guide the selection of participation tools and technologies in different scenarios. An online application prototype is then developed with the tools suggested by the step by step process to support public participation in the Ames Urban Fringe Plan in Story County, Iowa. The application is evaluated for its effectiveness based on the survey feedback received from the participants and interview responses. Opportunities, challenges and future recommendations are presented