I started blogging at the Web2fordev gateway, from which I will crosspost some articles here from time to time to get some further discussions on web2fordev. I wrote the following piece together with Giacomo Rambaldi, the initiator of PPgis (Open Forum on Participatory Geographic Information Systems and Technologies).
Online Mapping for Development: Opportunities and Challenges
Maps are an effective medium which can be used for development projects. They help visualise the spatial distribution of complex problems their inter-relationships and promote awareness. In recent years the availability of free or low-cost digital maps and remote sensed images has unleashed unprecedented ways to make use of spatial information for a variety of purposes. Last week we analysed the potential of open data sources for development. Open maps are an excellent example illustrating the many ways to use and link information in creative ways. In almost any development project, maps can assist in the interpretation of spatial issues, foster awareness and support transparency. Le Monde Diplomatique, offers interesting examples on using maps to visualize complex conflict situations. Unfortunately in developing countries large scale maps are not always easy to obtain, data are often outdated or inaccurate or too expensive. Free digital maps offer an alternative.
Potentials and Opportunities
Here are a few examples:
- The Harvard university runs the AfricaMap project, where one can view the African continent through different data layers. It is a good place to experiment a bit. For example in turning layers on and off for display and adjusting their transparency allows users to superimpose data sets. Resulting thematic maps can be linked from other sites. .
- Back at the 2007 Web2forDev International Conference Paul Saunby presented some great simulations on maps using open data around the issue of climate change. That way he could simulate future forecasts for a specific coast. “Such maps could provide planners with valuable information on where to build new roads or houses. They could also give farmers a better idea of where to plant next season’s crops or how best to irrigate their fields.”
- UNEP offers the Atlas of the Changing Environment: “Through illustrations, satellite images, ground photographs and powered by Google Maps, this interactive media depicts and describes humanity’s past and present impact on the environment.”
- A renouned example for putting maps to work is Ushahidi which means “testimony” in Swahili, where human rights activists offers a platform that crowdsources crisis information. It allows anyone to submit information through text messaging using a mobile phone, email or web form. Resulting data are visualised on thematic maps. Recent initiatives covered the Swine Flu Epidemic and the elections in India. The same free and open source application has been used to spatially document the Gaza war and Eastern Congo conflict.
- The AGCommons project combines mapping with mobile phones and aims to equip “Africa’s farmers with location-specific information to reduce uncertainty and increase returns“. AGCommons was one of the organizers behind the WhereCamp in Nairobi, entirely devoted to mapping.
- Another ambitious project is done by scientists from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), who want to create the first detailed digital soil map of sub-Saharan Africa. “African soils are among the poorest in the world, and many farmers suffer from chronically low-yielding crops. With accurate soil maps, we find farmers can increase their yields by around 60%, and sometimes double.” (BBC)
But whoever plans to make use of online maps in Africa should have a look at Google maps and Open Street Maps. Both services offer already some impressive maps for some parts of Africa. Google Maps introduced lately a massive update of maps for Western Africa and Open Street Maps (OSM) added more then hundred thousand miles of roads lately.
Google Maps acquires map material and offers to combine it with third party data and on your own website. Open Street Maps goes a step further offers its complete data with all geo reference for free under the creative commons license. The license is currently changed to a an Open Database License Agreement. OSM relies completely on volunteer work. Thousand of GPS equipped mapers go through streets or parks worldwide and contribute to maps. The result are impressive and in some place the same as good as Google maps or even better. Check out how Mikel Maron initiated some detail mapping for Palestine.
Aidworker shows how OSM maps are even much better in developing countries on the example of Kabul and Tiblis. So in the case of OSM you can download entire geodata, whereas in Google you somehow are bind to their digital maps, which allow impressive presentations.
Challenges
There are undoubtedly also some challenges. In the context only some parts and mainly urban areas have been mapped and there is a need for a critical mass of mappers to enter and cross-validate data in order to achieve a satisfactory degree of accuracy. The dilemma is that where maps are needed most, not enough volunteers are available and in other countries such as in Europe, maps have been developed the furthest. The transparency of maps can also be used for critical issues and lead to discrimination as the Times report from Japan.
Nevertheless digital maps have catapulted cartography into new dimensions in recent years. As a most information is location-specific, mapping offers great opportunities to support communication in development. In the past mapmaking was the realm of a few. Today mapmaking has become a widespread activity accessible to experts and non-experts, well minded and otherwise. Collaborative mapmaking offers great opportunities for development organizations to share and collect data.
Words of Caution
Said that a few words of caution are necessary: Users of online mapping facilities should have a close look at the terms of service they sign up before submitting their contributions. In the case of Google Map Maker upon submission of the data, the service provider acquires “perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display, distribute, and create derivative works.
Further, the frenzy of geo-tagging and online publishing of images, videos and other type of information without obtaining prior informed consent from the concerned parties may result in the infringement of privacy and intellectual property rights. With Open Street Maps in the old and new license, the contributed data is free for reuse and can be used for commercial purposes as well.
At WhereCampAfrica, a gathering which brought together geographers, cartographers and mobile mapping specialists to discuss the potential – and difficulties – of the ‘geographic web’ in Africa, participants expressed their concern that indiscriminate online mapping could feed tensions over land ownership and resource use and control (BBC).
The Inportance of Good Practice
In times where online mapmaking has reached exponential growth rates, there is the need to be increasingly aware of the implications and impact of making geo-located information publicly available and on the need to adhere to the ethical principles of privacy, confidentiality, of obtaining prior informed consent and avoiding exposing knowledge holders at risk. Practical ethics in the context of participatory mapmaking are discussed on an article published on Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) in 2006. The article is available in 12 languages.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
As the technical lead on the AGCommons program and organizer of WhereCampAfrica I appreciate your post. We are well aware of and working with Open Street Map, particularly through the gRoads program currently lead by CIESIN. When Google announced the general availability of downloadable vector data for Kenya from Map Maker back in April we took note of the potential implications. Given the various license schemes between the programs I’ve launched the Map Kibera project (http://www.wherecampafrica.org/node/13). One of the goals is to collect community generated streets data for Kibera, Kenya and to load that data into various platforms and force the question of licensing the datasets. Hopefully this program will get off the ground soon. Those of us working on the AGCommons program will be following up at the AfricaGIS conference in October as well as organizing the 2nd WhereCampAfrica in Bamako, Mali in 2010. Hope to see everyone there.
Thank you for this in-depth post. I especially appreciate your words of caution. It is very tempting to rush into using these powerful but easy-to-use technologies without considering any unintended consequences.
Excellent issue to raise Christian. As a promoter of openness and map sharing, especially for development, the question of what *not* to map is something I struggle with.
The accessibility of online mapping tools on the whole is empowering for people who previously could not communicate through this tools. Maps are historically a tool of military action and control. Now anyone can use this powerful medium.
But when does openness about geography introduce unnecessary political risk? Or on the flip side, when does secrecy play at a game that the dis-empowered are likely to lose. I don’t think there’s a hard and fast rule .. by and large openness should be the default policy, with consideration always reserved for problems of mapping.
“concern that indiscriminate online mapping could feed tensions over land ownership and resource use and control”
The key word is “indiscriminate”. If all stakeholders have equal access to the tools, and can equally share their point of view on ownership, then this can only help clarify the bounds of the conflict, and gives a real, tangible artifact for discussion.
The issue was raised in Gaza .. I couldn’t see a legitimate reason not to map.
http://brainoff.com/weblog/2009/01/12/1389
There was controversy recently in Oaxaca, a conflict of interest in a ppgis project and military funding. The concern is over control of data. What if everyone had access to the information created in this project?
http://www.zcommunications.org/zmag/viewArticle/21044
One case I’ve discussed that clearly spoke against open mapping were refugee routes out of Burma. Open publicity of these routes would but refugees at terrible risk.
-Mikel
Hi Mike, you may be interested in joining “PPgis.net – The Open Forum on Participatory Geographic Information Systems and Technologies” where we discuss the topics you mentioned in your reaction. Interested parties can register via http://www.ppgis.net to the English (global – 1500 members), Spanish, French and lusophone Chapters of the list.
@jubal harpster thanks for these interesting further links. Looking forward to read the experience from the Kibera project. Particular how different licenses and mapping efforts can be combined.
@mikel
Very good points. I agree that transparency can ultimately make a difference, but before that happens everybody needs to have access, which is nowadays still not guaranteed. I imagine such transparency can also cause social conflict and maybe even competition or rivalry. Is there also a risk of manipulation of cards. If so, how easy can that be indentified? Nevertheless and very helpful to address problems. I like the quote in a recent Economist article by Mr. Newman: “We make visible and real something that is usually invisible and abstract”. http://www.economist.com/science/tq/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13725877