Opportunities and next steps for advancing Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) methodology in place-based research

Source abstract

This reflection paper explores the emerging uses of Public Participation Geographic Information Systems in place-based research, drawing on our collective experiences using it for diverse purposes. We highlight three potential uses of Public Participation Geographic Information Systems for future research: 1) to give non-built and micro-level attributes a spatial representation, 2) to assist with future spatial planning and infrastructure needs and challenges, and 3) to offer a lower-cost alternative to collecting data on travel (and potentially other) behaviours. Areas for methodological refinement that should be prioritised include strengthening its capacity to include diverse groups of people and the need for validation studies.