Community Mapping: engaging the public Dr. Bob Maher, Senior Research Scientist Applied Geomatics Research Group Middleton, Nova Scotia Oct 28, 2009 Lunenburg Heritage Society

Quotation Noah Richler, Up here, Oct/Nov 2009, p16 “what Google is doing with cameras and street-views, “what Google is doing with cameras and street-views, we can do with myths, legends, stories and art”. we can do with myths, legends, stories and art”. “we should be working, now, on a massive popularly-constructed oral- history mapping project”. “mapping the North through stories”

“ As we voyage we are creating new stories within the tradition of the old stories, we are literally creating a new culture out of the old” - Nainoa Thompson, Polynesian Voyaging Society Quotation Wade Davis, The Wayfinders, Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World, CBC Massey Lectures Chapter 2 p35

Overview 1.Some basic definitions community mapping cultural mapping 2.Current status of the technology 3.Case Study: Port George and Fundy Communities Development Association (FCDA) 4.Future Research directions 5.Opportunities for Lunenburg Heritage Society 6.Questions

What is Community Mapping? Approaches a way to expand access to “local knowledge” Visualizing community-based knowledge and perceptions encourages the exchange of information and equalizes opportunities for all members of the community to participate in processes that affect their neighbourhoods and lives.

Who is involved in community mapping? Community organizations Citizen associations Non-Profit Organizations Other locally-situated civil institutions Minority and specialized groups

Importance of Community Mapping Improve and increase public involvement –Allow the community and its members an opportunity to evaluate design and planning proposals and visualize the impacts that decisions may have on the future of a community A significant contribution to geography A significant contribution to geography »Process of collecting and improving geospatial data »Enhancing our knowledge of the Earth »Local focus »Engaging citizens

A desire to fill gaps in available dataA desire to fill gaps in available data –Especially in areas where data are not available –Or where access is denied for security Help the average person advance with technologyHelp the average person advance with technology –Not just a select few (technical experts) who know ‘what to do’ Importance of Community Mapping

Wikimapia – An Example

Who we taught Kingstech NSCC CampusKingstech NSCC Campus –As part of their Wellness Week, we introduced them to GeoCaching Coastal CURACoastal CURA –Local community group concerned with Maritime water resources Lawrencetown Consolidated SchoolLawrencetown Consolidated School –Introduced Grade 4 students to GPS and how to map in Google Earth Bridgetown High SchoolBridgetown High School –Demonstrated to grade 9’s how to collect GPS data and display in Google Earth GPS data and display in Google Earth Bridgetown Elementary SchoolBridgetown Elementary School –Introduced Grade 4 students to GPS and how to map in Google Earth and how to map in Google Earth Coastal CURA LC S

Methods of Instruction Modified and created a variety of PowerPoint presentations Hands-On learning with the GPS units and with the HP Tablets Moodle for continued learning and access all presentations and reference material Demonstrate to teachers ways to incorporate GPS/GIS into the academic curriculum Demonstrate to teachers ways to incorporate GPS/GIS into the academic curriculum

Lesson Plan Brief Introduction to GPS and how to use the GPS units (Garmin GPSmap 76x)Brief Introduction to GPS and how to use the GPS units (Garmin GPSmap 76x)  Outside to collect GPS points and tracks

Lesson Plan  Download collected points and tracks  Demonstrate how to display collected data in Google Earth

Presentations/ Tutorials made that are available on Moodle

Reference Material

Coastal CURA March 6 & 7 Lawrencetown Consolidated School May 13 & 15

Workshops under development Coastal CURA: –Workshop focused more on GIS using various (free) available software with attention on each member’s personal GIS needs School GroupsSchool Groups –Visiting more classes and demonstrating how to use GPS and the HP Tablets –Find GIS software for teachers to use and show students (ArcVoyager, ArcExplorer Student Edition)

Cultural Mapping Greg Baeker, Cultural Mapping Tools; Connecting Place, Culture, and Economy for the Creation of Local Wealth, Municipal World, Sept. 2009, p13.

Cultural Strategic Plan Multi-stakeholder Steering Group Cultural resource mapping Community identity mapping Community engagement Council adoption Cultural Roundtable and implementation Ref. Dr. Greg Baeker, Senior Consultant with AuthentiCity

Innovation Ref. Dr. Greg Baeker, Senior Consultant with AuthentiCity

Cultural Mapping – Two Kinds Ref. Dr. Greg Baeker, Senior Consultant with AuthentiCity

CulturalResources NaturalHeritageNaturalHeritage Cultural Heritage CulturalFacilitiesCulturalFacilities Non-Profit Cultural Organizations Organizations Cultural Businesses CreativeIndustriesCreativeIndustries Festivals and Events Events Resource Mapping Ref. Dr. Greg Baeker, Senior Consultant with AuthentiCity

Community Identity Mapping Stories are the DNA of culture What defines this place? –Images –Places –Stories –Unique quality of life Narrative of culture and place Authenticity and collective memory Ref. Dr. Greg Baeker, Senior Consultant with AuthentiCity

Invite the community to share their favourites… Help people tell local stories… Ref. Dr. Greg Baeker, Senior Consultant with AuthentiCity

Current status of the technology 1.Base maps 2.Data Collection 3.GIS software 4.Web technology

Demonstration 1.Define the geography 2.Themes of interest 3.Base maps 4.Web GIS

Future Directions 1.Community Engagement - Needs analysis - Needs analysis - Facilitated meetings - Facilitated meetings 2.Technology development - shortest path - travel itinerary - linking different objects e.g. video - guided tours

Case Study 1 Results from Community Engagement

Case Study 2 Results from Community Engagement

Case Study 3

Town of Lunenburg 1. decide on geographic extent 2. scale 3. building footprints 4. imagery 5. story line 6. thematic layers 7. ownership of date 8. updating, quality control

Please Contact: Dr. Bob Maher Senior Research Scientist Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG) Middleton, NS Phone: Thank you