Empowerment, Marginalization, and

“Community-integrated” GIS

Empowerment, Marginalization, and

“Community-integrated” GIS

Trevor Harris and Daniel Weiner

Presented by Paris Edwards and Maria Stefanovich

October 1, 2007

Trevor Harris and Daniel Weiner

Presented by Paris Edwards and Maria Stefanovich

October 1, 2007

What is GIS?What is GIS?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLjtzxXTpN0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLjtzxXTpN0

Public Participation GISPublic Participation GIS

is an interdisciplinary research, community development and environmental stewardship tool grounded in value and ethical frameworks that promote social justice, ecological sustainability, improvement of quality of life, redistributive justice, nurturing of civil society, etc;

(By Doug Aberley and Renee Sieber)

is an interdisciplinary research, community development and environmental stewardship tool grounded in value and ethical frameworks that promote social justice, ecological sustainability, improvement of quality of life, redistributive justice, nurturing of civil society, etc;

(By Doug Aberley and Renee Sieber)

HypothesisHypothesis GIS is a contradictory technology that

simultaneously empowers and marginalizes people and communities. Therefore, the societal impacts of GIS are dependent on particular configurations of place-based

historical, socio-economic, political and technical conditions

GIS is a contradictory technology that simultaneously empowers and marginalizes people and communities. Therefore, the societal impacts of GIS are dependent on particular configurations of place-based

historical, socio-economic, political and technical conditions

National Research Council Predictions

National Research Council Predictions

Wide-spread use of GIS by 2010 increased [citizen] involvement better and more rapid access to public data the ability to present data more persuasively improved communications and technologies to

support collaboration power of the Internet and the WWW for rapid

publication and dissemination of ideas and data

Wide-spread use of GIS by 2010 increased [citizen] involvement better and more rapid access to public data the ability to present data more persuasively improved communications and technologies to

support collaboration power of the Internet and the WWW for rapid

publication and dissemination of ideas and data

National Research Council Predictions (cont.)

National Research Council Predictions (cont.)

Possible restrictions on public access to data and increasing privatization of spatial data

Concern for citizen preparedness to deal with spatial data and think spatially

Possible restrictions on public access to data and increasing privatization of spatial data

Concern for citizen preparedness to deal with spatial data and think spatially

GIS and SocietyGIS and Society

“quiet revolution” Use of GIS widening- need for

demonstration projects Issues arise concerning the

interpretation of alternative data

“quiet revolution” Use of GIS widening- need for

demonstration projects Issues arise concerning the

interpretation of alternative data

GIS and SocietyGIS and Society Top-down, elitist, technicist

GIS’s dualistic nature - using data to both empower and marginalize

Examples: “red-lining” and “gerrymandering”

Top-down, elitist, technicist

GIS’s dualistic nature - using data to both empower and marginalize

Examples: “red-lining” and “gerrymandering”

The anti-geographyThe anti-geography

Breakdown between knowledge and data

Can GIS be value-neutral?

Is GIS a tool or a science?

Breakdown between knowledge and data

Can GIS be value-neutral?

Is GIS a tool or a science?

Access to Data Access to Data

Commodification of data Privacy and use of

geodemographic data

Commodification of data Privacy and use of

geodemographic data

ChallengesChallenges

Knowledge distortion Democratic involvement as an

antidote Agencies’ bias Accountability

Knowledge distortion Democratic involvement as an

antidote Agencies’ bias Accountability

Attempts to overcome GIS challenges

Attempts to overcome GIS challenges

Initiative 19 Democratizing access - how can

GIS be modified for that purpose?

Initiative 19 Democratizing access - how can

GIS be modified for that purpose?

PPGIS CASE STUDIESPPGIS CASE STUDIES

-The Eagle Project (environmental health and risk

assessment)

-Peruvian Amazon (economic development strategies)

-The Eagle Project (environmental health and risk

assessment)

-Peruvian Amazon (economic development strategies)

Patterns Patterns

Control, Access, Results Two central themes in the success

of PPGIS projects are accountability and sustainability.

Control, Access, Results Two central themes in the success

of PPGIS projects are accountability and sustainability.

Interactive Online MappingInteractive Online Mapping

- How accessible is it?

www.interrain.org

- How accessible is it?

www.interrain.org

Community Use of GISCommunity Use of GIS

Hutchison and Toledano “demand driven” vs. “technology

driven”

Is it possible to avoid the “top down” approach to introducing technology?

Hutchison and Toledano “demand driven” vs. “technology

driven”

Is it possible to avoid the “top down” approach to introducing technology?

GIS and SocietyGIS and Society

“…[T]he integration of local knowledge and the representation of non-hegemonic epistemologies of space, environment, and territory are complex and potentially contradictory aspects of alternative GIS production and use”.

Can GIS accurately translate non-empirical data? (Rundstrom)

“…[T]he integration of local knowledge and the representation of non-hegemonic epistemologies of space, environment, and territory are complex and potentially contradictory aspects of alternative GIS production and use”.

Can GIS accurately translate non-empirical data? (Rundstrom)

Technological RepercussionsTechnological Repercussions

Disenfranchizing indigenous populations and the knowledge they provide by replacing the traditional methods with technology

What is lost in “translation”?

Disenfranchizing indigenous populations and the knowledge they provide by replacing the traditional methods with technology

What is lost in “translation”?

Community Integrated GISCommunity Integrated GIS Opens up involvement to those outside of the

community

Integrates spatial and non-spatial data to incorporate alternative local knowledge

Displays information in forms alternative to maps for diversity in representation

Allows inclusion of data that cannot be easily translated to map form

Does the production process seem feasible?

Opens up involvement to those outside of the community

Integrates spatial and non-spatial data to incorporate alternative local knowledge

Displays information in forms alternative to maps for diversity in representation

Allows inclusion of data that cannot be easily translated to map form

Does the production process seem feasible?

Project ScopeProject Scope

Accessibility to GIS on the internet

Could telecommunication be the key to increasing access to GIS?

Accessibility to GIS on the internet

Could telecommunication be the key to increasing access to GIS?

ConclusionConclusion

Skepticism about empowerment given the dualistic nature of GIS to both marginalize and empower

Place-based approach to the use of GISRelevance of GIS information is temporary and

dependent upon power configurations

Skepticism about empowerment given the dualistic nature of GIS to both marginalize and empower

Place-based approach to the use of GISRelevance of GIS information is temporary and

dependent upon power configurations

Points to PonderPoints to Ponder

Issues of hegemony, democracy, privacy – are they really avoidable?

Is cultural heritage at risk? Do risks outnumber the benefits?

What about the age of the article? Are these issues still relevant nine years later? Have the predictions of widespread use of GIS come true?

Issues of hegemony, democracy, privacy – are they really avoidable?

Is cultural heritage at risk? Do risks outnumber the benefits?

What about the age of the article? Are these issues still relevant nine years later? Have the predictions of widespread use of GIS come true?