Participatory GIS: opportunity or oxymoron

Abbot, J; Chambers, R; Dunn, C; Harris, T; Merode, E; Porter, G; Townsend, J; Weiner, D

Participatory GIS: opportunity or oxymoron

Abbot, J; Chambers, R; Dunn, C; Harris, T; Merode, E; Porter, G; Townsend, J; Weiner, D

Authors

J Abbot

R Chambers

C Dunn

T Harris

E Merode

Professor Gina Porter r.e.porter@durham.ac.uk
Professor

J Townsend

D Weiner

Abstract

A summary of some of the findings of a workshop on participatory research and geographic information systems, with a case study from South Africa. The article describes GIS as a computer-based technology and discusses its potential as a participatory planning and policy tool. The authors emphasise the challenges of local politics, updating and ownership. They conclude that there is valued to participatory GIS if it can help to inform process and relationships rather than simply extracting patterns from large volumes of data.

Citation

Abbot, J., Chambers, R., Dunn, C., Harris, T., Merode, E., Porter, G., …Weiner, D. (1998). Participatory GIS: opportunity or oxymoron

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Jan 1, 1998
Deposit Date	Nov 20, 2014
Journal	PLA notes
Peer Reviewed	Not Peer Reviewed
Volume	33
Pages	27-33
Publisher URL	http://www.participatorymethods.org/resource/participatory-gis-opportunity-or-oxymoron