GIS is not just for technicians anymore. Any issue that has a spatially based component can benefit from this powerful technology—a technology that merges maps and information.
But can GIS benefit the human component of coastal resource management? Can GIS help a committee reach consensus? Can people use the technology to enhance collaborative efforts and envision the future?
Yes. "Participatory GIS" represents an emerging option that many community organizations are finding useful and easy to use.
With participatory GIS tools, instead of merely talking about development possibilities, users can see various scenarios on a map and change components at will to reflect new ideas and requirements.
"The visual nature of GIS gives people a clear picture of the situation. Combining participatory methods with geospatial technology helps gather local knowledge, increasing the quality of decision-making processes and participant buy-in," says Chrissa Stroh, environmental planner with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal Services Center.
The value of participatory GIS is being examined as Stroh works with citizens in coastal South Carolina who have a vision of preserving their community’s rural character. Using participatory GIS methods, the citizens are better able to define and document what is meant by community character, adding churches, local landmarks, and scenic views to the maps they are creating.
"Not only are they gathering information for the decision-making process, but working through the participatory GIS is increasing their knowledge and skill level and legitimizing their work," says Stroh. "We haven’t completed the project yet, but I can already see the power of this technology."
Examples of Participatory GIS
On-line Mapping Applications – Several on-line mapping applications are free or inexpensive, allowing users to create and share information in a geospatial format. Examples include trail routes created using GPS, photographs of geographic locations, and favorite restaurants or sites.
Google Earth – http://earth.google.com
Microsoft Virtual Earth – www.microsoft.com/virtualearth/
Openstreetmap – www.openstreetmap.org
Tools and Methods
Paper Maps – Participants can add information to paper maps (important community features, proposed development boundaries, suggested locations of parks, and so on).
Adobe PDF Maps – These maps allow users to view geospatial data, turn layers on and off, and print without making changes to the data.
Argumaps – Argumaps are useful when there are arguments for or against a specific project in a geographic location, as the tool provides a way to store information about planning discussions that have occurred about a certain location.
Habitat Priority Planner – www.csc.noaa.gov/hpp/
This software helps users prioritize their project goals by packaging ecological and other components in a mapping structure. Users can quickly display criteria on a map to help an audience visualize options.
City Geography Markup Language – www.citygml.org
This is used for 3-D visual planning and can incorporate features such as vegetation, soil, digital terrain models, buildings, water bodies, and infrastructure.
CommunityViz – www.placeways.com
This tool is used to visualize landscape scenarios and communicate ideas and information.
To give feedback on the National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministrationCoastalServicesCenter's website (www.csc.noaa.gov), please contact Sean Ryan at Sean.Ryan@noaa.gov.
