Community participation and geographic information systems

Abstract

Geographic information systems (GIS) and geographic information technologies (GIT) are increasingly employed in research and development projects that incorporate community participation. For example, there are now applications involving indigenous natural resource mapping in arctic and tropical regions within the Americas (Marozas 1993; Cultural Survival Quarterly 1995; Bond, this volume). There is also a rapidly growing network of planning professionals interested in how GIS can merge with community participation in the context of neighbourhood revitalization and urban planning (Aitken and Michel 1995; Craig and Elwood 1998; Leitner et al., this volume; Sawicki and Peterman, this volume; Talen 1999; 2000). Environmental groups are experimenting with community GIS applications to promote environmental equity and address environmental racism (Sieber 2000; Kellogg 1999). Furthermore, NGOs, aid organizations, and governmental agencies are linking communities with GIS as they seek to promote more popular and sustainable development projects (Dunn et al. 1997; Elwood and Leitner 1998; Gonzales 1995; Harris et al. 1995; Hutchinson and Toledano 1993; Jordan and Shrestha 1998; Kwaku-Kyem 1999; Mitchell 1997; Obermeyer and Pinto 1994; Rambaldi and Callosa 2000; Weiner et al. 1995; Weiner and Harris 1999).