support the spread of “good practice” in generating, managing, analysing and communicating...

Support the spread of “good practice” in generating, managing, analysing and communicating spatial information

Factors Influencing the Choice of Mapping Method

By: Jon Corbett, Kasondra White and Giacomo Rambaldi

Unit: M06U01

Introduction

• Main methods available

• How to select mapping methods

• What is the purpose of the map?

Choosing the right method

• Choice of method should come from within the community

• Open and inclusive selection process

• Choice of method will be influenced by:–purpose–resources –environment

Purpose

• Relaying spatial information to external agencies

– How communities interact with traditional lands– Maps are easily accessible– Understandable by all audiences

• Recording and archiving local knowledge– Useful for collecting and preserving cultural

histories– Records knowledge of elderly community members– Facilitates identity building

Purpose

• Supporting self-determination, land claims and land reallocation

– Preserves cultural histories– Supports ancestral domain and tenure claims

• Conducting collaborative research– Can be collaborative and constructive– Can address inconsistent approaches to

collaboration

Purpose

• Assisting communities in land-use planning and resource management

– Makes community knowledge visible– Can be used for identifying natural features– Communicates desired management plans

• Safeguarding biodiversity and biocultural diversity

– Understanding species and landscape diversity– Supports protected area delineation

Purpose

• Enabling communities to advocate for change

– Bolsters legitimacy of claims to land

• Increasing capacity within communities– Brings community members together– Builds community cohesion– Assists in recognising assets and concerns– Raises awareness about local issues

Purpose

• Managing and ameliorating territorial conflict

– Used to reduce conflict between communities and outsiders, as well as with insiders

– Provides a graphic representation of conflict

• Supporting good governance– Used to request ownership of land claimed by the

state– Tool to seek recognition and inclusion– Helps to hold governments accountable

Purpose

• Awareness raising and assisting with education and social learning

– Presents a commonly understood language– Communicates across language, age, education or

gender barriers

Resources

• Community capacity– Time– Specialised skills– Community-appointed intermediaries

• Funding– How much is available?– Cost of methods relative to others

Resources

• Technical know-how– Technical expertise within the community– Are technology intermediaries required?– Funding for training

• Time– How much is required?– Training time

Environment

• Legal and regulatory frameworks– Disabling regulations– Disconnect between formal and traditional

institutions

• Political climate– Including decision makers– Limited access to information– Dangers of displaying information

Environment

• Cultural setting– Beliefs or practices may affect suitability

• Biophysical environment– Physical features

• Infrastructural setting– Electric power and Internet connectivity– Availability of resources

Environment

• Peace and order situation– Mapping could be interpreted as a threat– Mapping in high-risk areas

• Accessibility and extent of areas to be mapped

– Access, security and health risks– Area to be mapped