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