Participatory Mapping
Participatory mapping is a process whereby a local community with specialized knowledge of a spatial environment participates in recording and representing that space through modern cartography.
What are some key problems that this process can solve?
All around the world, decisions are made about land without input from the communities that inhabit the land
• very often this pertains to more remote areas, those rich in natural resources, lands on which indigenous communities live and other marginalized groups. Participatory mapping allows these more remote and marginalized communities to represent themselves spatially, bringing their local knowledge and perspectives to the attention of governmental authorities and decision-makers.
How does this process work?
Participatory mapping can be done with the help of digital tools or analogue. For the process, people are asked to mark preferences, locations, and other features related to a given topic on a map. Sometimes, a large, physical map is brought out at a meeting or other public venue so that the public can write, draw, or place post-it notes directly on it. Over time, online tools web-based such as Crowd- Map have allowed vast numbers of internet users to digitally provide personal input.
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№ OF PEOPLE |
inform | Consult | Involve | Collaborate | Empower |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1—100 pPL |
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100—1k pPL |
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1k—10k pPL |
Participatory mapping using Mapeo by The Waorani Indigenous people | ||||
10k—100k pPL |
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100k—1M pPL |
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1M—10M pPL |
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10M—100M pPL |
Collaborative and Non-Partisan Electoral Map-Drawing in California | ||||
100M—1B pPL |
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1B+ pPL |
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Global |