Towards Participatory Geographic Information Systems for community-based environmental decision making

Area of Science:

• Environmental Planning
• Geographic Information Science
• Community Engagement

Background:

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can serve as crucial information technology for public participation in community development and sustainable resource management.
• Participatory GIS (PGIS) offers practical tools to facilitate meaningful public involvement in decision-making processes.
• The article reviews current research and the status of PGIS.

Discussion:

• PGIS integrates public input into planning and decision-making frameworks.
• It addresses the need for accessible tools that enable diverse groups to contribute to local governance.
• The potential for PGIS to bridge the gap between technical information and community understanding is explored.

Key Insights:

• Two case studies in water resource planning demonstrate PGIS effectiveness with varying information tools.
• PGIS facilitates informed public participation in environmental and community planning.
• The use of both simple and sophisticated information tools in PGIS yields valuable community insights.

Outlook:

• PGIS holds significant promise for empowering citizens in decision-making regarding their communities and natural resources.
• Further development and application of PGIS can enhance democratic processes in resource management.
• The integration of PGIS into planning workflows is essential for sustainable development.