INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR GEO-INFORMATION SCIENCE AND EARTH OBSERVATION “Think Global, Act Local” Communicating Indigenous Technical Knowledge to a Global audience Jeroen Verplanke

2 Local Communities Collecting Data

3 Capturing Indigenous Knowledge

4 Accrediting Local Knowledge (ITK)?  Are local methods and practices globally and scientifically acceptable?  How to compare Indigenous Technical Knowledge from different countries?  How could ITK be presented in an acceptable way?

5 Communities using “Mobile GIS”  High-end technology  Direct “translation”  Local “experts”  Local “cost”  Local “ownership”

6 The Mobile GIS unit

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10  Is it adapted to local physical conditions? (ruggedized equipment)  Local capacities? (training)  User-friendly? (adaptation)  Do benefits counter (transaction) cost?  Can data be up-dated sustainably? (local-regional institutional setting) Can (P)GIS be managed at local level?

11 What it takes for this to work…  The technical solutions will evolve rapidly given the current rate of developments in computer technology.  Reduced cost  Better availability and operability  Focus should be on the institutional embedding of the method and tools at different levels

12 Three institutional levels Local umbrella National International certified

13 Three institutional levels Local umbrella National International certified Transaction cost Non-Profit Intermediary

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR GEO-INFORMATION SCIENCE AND EARTH OBSERVATION Thank you for your attention

15 Current Cost of Equipment  Pocket PC$  GPS$  Software $ 400. – $1000. – Issue is not current cost but in a few years

16 Usefulness of Satellite Imagery

17 Good Practice Sequence in PGIS Pre Conditions  Purpose purpose purpose Partnership Positively discriminate Power Products Participation is learning Participation is slow PRA principles – flexibility, innovative, involved, triangulation