Leveraging Geographical Information to Strengthen People’s Engagement in Local Placemaking Processes

Participatory mapping approaches are increasingly employed in social and environmental fields of research and practice. This chapter explores how the use of geographical information can enhance people’s engagement in placemaking. Starting from theoretical concepts and experiences, the chapter explores the use of geographical information in three different contexts. The three cases all aimed to use geographical information to engage people in public participation processes, albeit with different tools and approaches and pursuing different objectives. In the province of Brindisi, a combination of a map-based questionnaire and geo-design workshops was used to bring to the fore local heritage perceptions and to involve the local community incultural landscape planning. In the case of Ancona, a web-based public participation geographic information system (PPGIS) related to abandoned buildings and public spaces was developed in a university course together with third-party associations. The objectives were to identify meaningful places and spaces and how they could be reused and regenerated and to envisage an alternative urban development. In urban Morelia, Mexico, the focus was on participatory mapping with children concerning their perceptions of their home neighbourhoods and the journeys between home and school, especially concerning risk places. The tools used were mental maps, Google Earth images and GeoODK for recording routes and places. All the case studies discuss the strengths and limitations of the various methods applied and how geographical information can involve different groups of participants in placemaking processes. Key lessons can be learnt from critically assessing these specific approaches and tools towards enhancing engagement using geographical information. Among these are: how geographical information can strengthen representation of people’s inputs and ideas; how to respond to issues of representativity and inclusion of diverse participants and their trust towards external organisers; and the necessity of clarity and self-awareness in collaboratively determining the purpose of the participatory mapping processes.