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