Community and Participatory Mapping Toolbox

This online resource provides an overview of the tools available to organisations who want to implement participatory or community mapping programmes, and provides clarification on many of the terms and technologies used in the field.

One significant distinction made is between participatory geographic information systems (PGIS) and public participation geographic information systems (PPGIS). The author cites Daniel Weiner's distinction between the two

PGIS is generally practiced in the South as an intersection of Participatory Development and GIT&S [geographic information technologies and systems]. PPGIS is practiced in the North as an intersection of Participatory Planning and GIS&T [geographic information systems and technologies]."

Other tools of the field are expanded on in individual toolbox sections:

• Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) - a tool used to support public participation in planning and other GIS related environments, often using web-based technologies. This section contains a definition of the field by Doug Aberley and Renee Sieber.
• Participatory GIS - a tool which depends on interactive participation by stakeholders in generating and managing spatial data and uses the resulting information to make informed decisions. The method entertains peer-to-peer dialogue, utilises effective communication strategies, and supports advocacy and actions.
• Global Positioning Systems - a technology described as inexpensive enough to now be in widespread use among non-governmental  and indigenous peoples' organisations.
• Two-Stage Resource Mapping (2-SRM) - a process by which information is transposed from a sketch map to a conventional topographic map. 
• Participatory 3-Dimensional Modeling (P3DM) - a participatory process which merges conventional spatial information (contours) with people's mental maps.
• Participatory photo-mapping - a method described as an easy to use and a non-literate tool to effectively engage farmers in discussions on natural resource use, planning and management.
• Participatory Sketch Mapping - a group method used for collating and plotting information on the occurrence, distribution, access and use of resources within the economic and cultural domain of a specific community.
• Transect Diagramming - used to describe the location and distribution of resources, the landscape and main land uses along a given transect.
• Social Mapping - in which groups (often women) generate maps depicting on village layout, infrastructure, demography, ethno-linguistic groups, health pattern, and socio-economic groups. Examples of social maps generated in these groups are included.
• Aerial Photography and Satellite Imagery - with a link to the IAPAD's [PDF]Manual On Participatory Village Mapping Using Photomaps.
• CyberTracker freeware - free software for GPS-enabled computers which allows users to record georeferenced observations by selecting icons depicting specific features.