Empowering Individuals and Community Groups – is Web GIS the Way Forward?

A key aim of government, as evidenced by the recent publication of a White Paper entitled “Communities in Control – Real people real power”, is to enhance the involvement of local communities in the decision making processes of their local councils and increase the power of local residents to influence change in their area. Fundamental to this process is the provision of timely access to information, allowing people to actively participate in decision making processes relating to themselves as individuals and to their local community. In parallel with this, the number of internet-based Geographical Information Systems (Web GIS) applications has rapidly increased in recent years, in particular with the emergence of sites such as those underpinned by Google Maps technology. Web GIS is seen as a useful tool for conveying publicly held information to meet e-government targets, with many local authorities now utilising Web GIS to disseminate information relating to topics such as planning applications, flood risk, air quality management, cycle routes, controlled parking zones and Closed Circuit TV locations. However, our recent work on the Mapping Change for Sustainable Communities project (working with four communities in the London Thames Gateway area to develop maps showing local development projects, environmental issues and history) has highlighted some issues with this approach, bringing to light a mismatch between the web skills of active community group members and the web skills required to access and process information provided using Web GIS. The skills required are beyond those of basic internet use (which is not a given for many community members) and extend to map reading, the ability to understand and interpret information presented in map format as well as evaluate its quality, currency and source – always assuming that the user is able to successfully locate the information in the first place. One of our partners on this project, Planning Aid for London, was set up to provide free and independent town planning advice to individuals and groups unable to afford professional consultants, and to help such persons overcome the technicalities of the planning process. The question that must be asked now is: is there also a need for a ‘Mapping Aid for London’? Empowering Communities The recent White Paper entitled “Communities in Control – Real people, real power” [7] and published in July 2008 reflects ongoing efforts by central and local government to increase community participation and generate a more vibrant local democracy. It notes that while councils remain at the heart of local democracy they should do more to promote participation and stresses the importance of access to information as part of this process. Specific duties of councils will include: • Promoting democracy • Involving local people in key decisions Key amongst the aims proposed is providing more access to information, thus empowering citizens. The White Paper also recognises the link between social and digital exclusion, and aims to address this issue by exploring methods of providing information to vulnerable and socially excluded groups. Social exclusion happens “when people or areas have a combination of linked problems, such as unemployment, discrimination, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime and family breakdown. These problems are linked and mutually reinforcing.” [3]. Access to information is recognised as an important factor in increasing social inclusion. Internet-based Geographical Information Systems (Web GIS) have long been seen as an important part of this information dissemination process with most local councils now supporting some form of internet mapping on their website. Seventy-five per cent of all information in local government is geographically referenced with 45 of the 122 national e-government priorities requiring GIS [14]. In particular, public access to corporate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for map-based data to present property-related information (known as priority G5) has been given importance. Web mapping has also more recently hit the headlines with plans to make crime information available across the country through the use of interactive maps [1]. The use of web GIS to support information sharing is also becoming more prevalent amongst other non-governmental users, particularly with the advent of systems such as Google Maps and Multi-Map which make internet mapping more easily accessible to web developers. The BBC now includes GIS on their website regularly, with some pages focussing on user-generated content. An example of this could be seen during the recent petrol shortages, where users were asked to pinpoint sources of fuel on a central map hosted by the BBC [2]. Mapping Change for Sustainable Communities Using Web GIS, the Mapping Change for Sustainable Communities (MCSC) project [10] (which is one of 28 projects forming part of the Urbanbuzz: Building Sustainable Communities portfolio [15]) aims to develop web-based maps to provide communities with information about what is happening locally. This includes local organisations, events and meetings, as well as upcoming large development projects and other topics relating to local planning issues, local history and issues such as noise pollution. The maps aim to act as a ‘one-stop shop’ for local information, maintained by the community for the community. To date, members of the team have worked a number of London-based communities to establish four local websites [5].