PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988-2001 5 Participatory GIS: opportunity or oxymoron?

Document begins: PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988­2001 5 Participatory GIS: opportunity or oxymoron? Jo Abbot, Robert Chambers, Christine Dunn, Trevor Harris, Emmanuel de Merode, Gina Porter, Janet Townsend and Daniel Weiner Introduction GIS comprise several components. One component brings geographical data into the In January 1998, a group of 35 researchers and GIS, either from remote sensing sources, practitioners met at the University of Durham ordinary printed or digital maps, or field for a workshop to discuss participatory reports, and converts those data into computer- research and the potential for participatory readable form. Secondly, a GIS incorporates a Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The database which allows the data to be workshop drew on experiences with manipulated and managed. A third component participatory GIS in South Africa and on of GIS comprises the ability to bring together participatory approaches to the management of selected themes or `layers' of data and perform the coastal zone ecosystem in Ghana. The a number of spatial analytical operations. objective of the workshop was to identify the Finally, the results from analysing data in a benefits and problems of a participatory GIS GIS are disseminated in a number of ways, but approach. most commonly in map form. ...