From Mental Maps to GeoParticipation

Abstract

Ever since behavioural geographers started working with place perception; and Peter Gould and Kevin Lynch used mental maps to explore city visualization and spatial preferences, participation has become an integral part of geographical research. Later, when Robert Chambers and others introduced maps into Participatory Rural Appraisal, Participatory GIS and Public Participation GIS were also recognized by quantitative geographers as research methods and visualization tools. In the era of smartphones and global Internet coverage, applications such as FixMyStreet, ArcGIS Online, CartoDB and Maptioannaire allow users to cross the technology gap and become neocartographers without the need for GIS knowledge. GeoParticipation based on using spatial tools in order to involve citizens in community participation can be the future development of Public Participation GIS as it provides an easy-to-use environment and social engagement while creating the feeling of belonging to a certain social group or community. The paper presents a historical review of participatory approaches to the creation of maps, while focusing on the changing role of citizens; from being the objects of geographical research to being the creators of the agenda as well as decision-makers within their communities. Maps were always used as tools of power, but there is a visible shift in the (map) power structures, from maps created by experts and state administration representatives towards maps created by people and their users.

Keywords:

• community mapping
• participatory geographies
• volunteered geographic information

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and ideas that helped to shape and restructure the paper into its current state. Thanks also go to the guest editors of the issue for their work and the opportunity to promote participatory approaches in geography and GIScience.

ORCiD

Jiří Pánek http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6390-3149

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jiří Pánek

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Jiří Pánek holds a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Geography and GIS from the Department of Geoinformatics and a Ph.D. from the Department of Development Studies, Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic. His research is focussed on GIS in development cooperation and humanitarian aid, with a main focus on Participatory GIS (PGIS/PPGIS). He has experience of mapping in Kenya and South Africa, he also studied GIS in India.