Possible focus areas

Infrastructure & Transit Planning is a broad topic, and collaborative maps can support all kinds of different planning initiatives.

• Future visioning and long term planning
• Feedback on project proposals
• Mapping hazards, noise complaints, pollution
• Mapping how parks and open space are used or enjoyed
• Finding suitable locations for new infrastructure (cycle paths, bike racks, lighting...)

The research that inspired it all

In 2017, before I founded canvis.app, I used some enterprise GIS software to run a public participation GIS "PPGIS" campaign for the City of Karlsruhe, as part of an EU funded project. We were interested in exploring the method and the topic together-- letting citizens suggest bike routes, improvements, comments and complains, and answering a few survey questions along side it.

We were inspired by a few trailblazers, especially the crowd-mapping campaign by the New York City Department of Transportation and MobilityLab in Washington DC, among others.

The results have heavily inspired canvis.app, and we've built upon these experiences.

Before canvis was invented, we used GIS software and ask citizens to mark and draw points.

For our research project in Karlsruhe, we spoke with local planning experts about the results. We learned a few things.

• User-experience is extremely important. Maps aren't always intuitive to everyone.
• Despite the clunky enterprise software, almost all contributions were thoughtful, respectful, and interesting.
• Among 577 map contributions, not a single one was profane, abusive or troublesome (though a few were miss-placed).
• Planners found the results to be an interesting complement that most often mirrored, but sometimes challenged their own expertise!

Two approaches for citizen engagement