As urban GIS planners, we often get caught up in the latest tools and software, but I’m curious about how we can better incorporate community input into our projects. Last month, I attended a workshop on participatory mapping that really opened my eyes to the importance of engaging residents. How are others in this forum integrating community feedback into their GIS processes?
It’s true that engaging residents can shift our projects in amazing ways. In my last project, we used surveys and workshops to gather input early on, which really helped prioritize community needs. I wonder what you found most effective in participatory mapping — was it the tools, or the process of engagement itself?
Participatory mapping is a game changer! In a recent project, we not only used workshops but also digital tools like StoryMaps to visualize community input. It was incredible to see how residents responded to seeing their ideas represented. How did the workshop you attended incorporate technology in gathering feedback?
I completely agree about the importance of community input! In my experience, using focus groups alongside participatory mapping really helped us understand local priorities better. How did the workshop you attended incorporate technology in gathering those ideas, @scawhit?