1. Using the Geoweb to engage
communities in economic and
environmental decision-making
Dr. Peter A. Johnson, McGill University
Rural Research Workshp Ottawa, Ontario
Thursday, May 5th, 2011
www.data.gov
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2. http://code.google.com/apis/maps/index.html
Geoweb
platforms/APIs
www.openlayers.org
Mashup of neighbourhood-level school
achievement in DC (http://achievedc.mapkist.com/)
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3. Free Bathrooms in Manchester, NH
(www.myggm.org)
Project Background
• 3 year grant from
Quebec Ministry of
Government Services
• Partnered with 5
provincial ministries,
regional government,
GIS non-profit,
community
organizations
• Set in rural municipality
(MRC) of Acton, pop. ~
16,000
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5. Challenges in Acton
• Negative
population growth
• High
unemployment
• Strict provincial
land use
regulations (97%
agricultural) inhibit
growth
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6. Project Goals
• Facilitate access to and use of online
geospatial data by regional government and
citizens
• Engage community as both producers and
consumers of data
• Define and evaluate the roles of
government in facilitating the use of
geospatial data by the public
Facilitate Access
• Web-based library
• Aimed at municipal
government,
elected officials,
citizens
• Both informational
and participatory
GeoActon Library
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7. GeoActon Library
GeoActon Library
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8. Engage Community
• Partnership with
local community
economic
development
organization in
asset mapping
exercise
Economic Development Portal
www.regionacton.ca
Asset Mapping
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9. Acton 2.0
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10. Erosion Mapping
• Students led
workshops with
watershed
NGO
• Integrate
information into
regional
watershed
management
plan
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11. Evaluate
• Define and evaluate the roles of
government in facilitating the use of
geospatial data by the public
• Interviews on government perspective
• Outputs where data gathered was used to
support policy
Government Interests in
Geoweb
• Provincial level:
• Strong desire for transparency and
improved service provision
• Municipal level:
• Efficiency gains in facilitating citizen
participation
• Better present case to province
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12. Government Concerns
with Geoweb
• Provincial level:
• is it broadly representative?
• is it actionable?
• Municipal level:
• process creates high expectations for
results
• ultimate control rests at provincial level
Lessons Learned
• Find internal champions within
government
• Start small
• Defined process with start/end date
• Complement existing process, not a
replacement
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13. Thank You!
For more information, see my blog:
http://toursim.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @peterajohnson
This research has been supported by:
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