Employing Participatory Risk Mapping (PRM) as a land-use planning method: the case of a derelict former hospital in Laredo, Texas, USA

ABSTRACT

Participatory methods that are structured, equitably collected, and produce analysable data offer improvement to the often predetermined and hierarchical land-use planning process. Participatory Risk Mapping (PRM), was used to garner feedback on potential land uses and current concerns regarding an abandoned hospital property in Laredo, Texas, USA by interviewing 496 participants who live within view of the former hospital. Overall, PRM is an efficient and systematic approach to including key stakeholders into sustainable and equitable urban land-use planning.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the City of Laredo City Council and District 3 Councilman Alex Pérez for the opportunity to conduct this research for a formal report on their behalf. We would like to show our gratitude to the Heights and Los Altos residents who shared their time with us to participate in this study. Additionally, we appreciate all the AHEC student volunteers who conducted the bulk of the field work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the City of Laredo, Texas, USA [NA].