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Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) study the applications of geospatial technologies, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), by members of the public. PPGIS emerged in the 1990s in response to epistemological criticisms that the social, political and philosophical implications of GIS had been largely ignored by GIS practitioners. PPGIS strives to address criticisms by making GIS more widely available to grassroots groups and individuals. In the United States, access to GIS among community-based organizations (CBOs) remains limited because of the cost and complexity of geospatial technologies and the inaccessibility of appropriate spatial data. GIS mapping and spatial analyses, however, have proved to be valuable to CBOs in visualizing community dynamics. PPGIS examines access barriers and utilizes participatory approaches to build GIS capacity at the grassroots. Syracuse Community Geography (SCG) was developed in 2005 with the goal of improving access to GIS among community-based organizations in Syracuse, New York. SCG is a university-community partnership that responds to requests for GIS assistance from CBOs seeking to use GIS to support a wide variety of community initiatives. The objective of the current research is to examine how the Syracuse Community Geography facilitator-based model of PPGIS responds to GIS and Society criticisms and PPGIS practical implementation challenges. Using case studies and questionnaires, I investigate key process and outcome measures discussed in the literature using three case studies and questionnaires. Case studies explore how SCG facilitates GIS access among community-based organizations seeking to use GIS to analyze issues of food insecurity, neighborhood walkability and adolescent health. Questionnaires distributed to an additional 28 SCG community project representatives test participants' perceptions of SCG's efficacy. Analyses of case study and questionnaire evidence reveal that the Syracuse Community Geography model is largely successful in addressing challenges ascribed to PPGIS. It is a viable model of PPGIS that uses a facilitator-based approach and a participatory process that could be replicated in other settings. The process and outcome evaluation metric used to evaluate the efficacy of SCG could also be adapted by other PPGIS practitioners. Implications for future research are discussed.
Jonnell Robinson (Thu,) studied this question.