● Proposed Terms of Reference
The working group under the International Cartographic Association aims to explore, promote, and research participatory mapping, focusing on its societal impacts. Participatory mapping is an inclusive term for cartographic methods that use maps to foster community dialogue. Participatory mapping empowers vulnerable communities by integrating spatial technologies in:
- Community development
- Planning processes
- Research
- Applications include:
- Boundary delineation
- Documentation of resources and cultural sites
- Environmental data tracking
- Future neighbourhood planning
- Communicating perceptions of urban and rural areas
- Local spatial knowledge
Related terms include PGIS, PPGIS, collaborative mapping, community mapping, Indigenous mapping, cybercartography, P3DM, OpenStreetMap and Youth Mappers.
● Goals of the working group
Promote inclusive community engagement of participatory mapping community within as well as outside the ICA. Promote international cooperation within the International Cartographic Association (ICA) to share knowledge and best practices in participatory mapping.
Facilitate dialogue through cartography – Use maps as a platform for dialogue between communities, policymakers, researchers, and planners, while promoting participatory mapping as a way to express perceptions, preferences, and concerns regarding urban and rural landscapes, including fear of crime or environmental risks.
Research Societal Impacts of Participatory Mapping – Investigate the societal outcomes and empowerment resulting from participatory mapping efforts, particularly in relation to marginalized or Indigenous communities. Study the role of participatory mapping in shaping policy, community empowerment, and social justice. Foster innovation in participatory mapping technologies, and explore the future potential of cybercartography while collaborating across disciplines and regions.
Our working group will also built a connection between participatory mapping and OpenStreetMap (OSM), as they are intrinsically linked through their shared emphasis on community engagement and the democratization of geographic data. Participatory mapping empowers local communities to document their environments, while OSM provides a global, open platform enabling volunteers (represented by for example Youth Mappers) to digitize and share such data freely. By integrating local knowledge with accessible tools, OSM serves as a practical vehicle for participatory mapping, fostering applications in disaster management, urban planning, and resource advocacy.