Participatory GIS and Crowdsourced Mapping Training Course

Introduction

In an era of increasing demand for localized and relevant spatial information, traditional top-down mapping approaches often fall short in capturing the nuanced realities and diverse perspectives of communities. Participatory GIS (PGIS) and Crowdsourced Mapping offer powerful, complementary methodologies that democratize map-making and leverage the collective knowledge of citizens and local stakeholders. PGIS involves actively engaging communities in the creation, analysis, and management of geographic information, empowering them to define their own spaces, identify local assets and challenges, and advocate for their needs. This approach combines traditional participatory methods with modern GIS technology to produce maps that reflect local knowledge and priorities. Crowdsourced mapping, a broader concept, utilizes a large, distributed group of individuals to contribute geographic data, often through online platforms (like OpenStreetMap) or citizen science initiatives. While PGIS focuses on empowering specific communities, crowdsourced mapping aims for large-scale data generation. Together, these approaches provide invaluable tools for community development, disaster response, urban planning, environmental monitoring, and social justice. Without a clear understanding of these methodologies and the tools to implement them, organizations and community groups may miss opportunities to leverage local expertise, ensure inclusivity, and create relevant, impactful spatial datasets. Many individuals lack the practical skills to facilitate participatory mapping sessions, design effective crowdsourcing campaigns, or manage the unique data quality challenges inherent in user-generated geographic content.

Conversely, mastering PGIS and crowdsourced mapping empowers professionals to build more inclusive and representative spatial datasets, fostering community engagement, strengthening local decision-making, and addressing critical societal issues with ground-truth information. This specialized skill set is crucial for transforming passive data consumption into active data co-creation, leading to more sustainable and equitable outcomes. Our intensive 5-day "Participatory GIS and Crowdsourced Mapping" training course is meticulously designed to equip community organizers, urban planners, development practitioners, NGOs, public sector employees, researchers, and GIS professionals with the essential knowledge and practical skills required to confidently design, implement, and manage PGIS and crowdsourced mapping initiatives.

Duration

5 Days

Target Audience

The "Participatory GIS and Crowdsourced Mapping" training course is ideal for a diverse range of professionals and community leaders who aim to engage stakeholders in spatial data creation and utilization. This includes:

  • Community Development Practitioners: Working with local communities on planning and advocacy.
  • NGO and Civil Society Organization Staff: Implementing community-based projects.
  • Urban Planners and Architects: Seeking public input for spatial planning and design.
  • Social Scientists and Researchers: Conducting community-led research and participatory assessments.
  • GIS Professionals and Technicians: Interested in applying GIS for social good and citizen engagement.
  • Local Government Officials: Engaging citizens in decision-making processes.
  • Emergency Management and Disaster Risk Reduction Specialists: Utilizing local knowledge for vulnerability mapping.
  • Environmental Advocates: Mapping environmental issues and local ecological knowledge.
  • Educators and Trainers: Teaching participatory mapping concepts.
  • Anyone interested in empowering communities through geographic information.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the "Participatory GIS and Crowdsourced Mapping" training course, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the theoretical foundations, ethical considerations, and practical applications of Participatory GIS (PGIS) and crowdsourced mapping.
  • Design and facilitate participatory mapping sessions tailored to specific community needs and objectives.
  • Select and utilize appropriate tools and technologies for both PGIS (e.g., mobile apps, web platforms) and crowdsourced mapping (e.g., OpenStreetMap).
  • Develop strategies for engaging diverse community members, including marginalized groups, in the mapping process.
  • Manage, validate, and integrate user-generated geographic data into professional GIS workflows.
  • Address challenges related to data quality, privacy, and sustainability in collaborative mapping projects.
  • Utilize PGIS and crowdsourced maps for community advocacy, planning, and decision-making.
  • Formulate a plan for implementing a participatory or crowdsourced mapping project from inception to dissemination.

 Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Participatory GIS (PGIS) and Crowdsourced Mapping

  • Defining PGIS: Principles, history, and key concepts (e.g., empowerment, local knowledge).
  • Defining Crowdsourced Mapping: Volunteer Geographic Information (VGI), Citizen Science.
  • Distinguishing between PGIS and crowdsourced mapping; understanding their overlaps and differences.
  • Benefits and challenges of engaging communities in mapping.
  • Case studies of successful PGIS and crowdsourced mapping initiatives globally.

Module 2: Methodologies and Approaches for Participatory Mapping

  • Traditional participatory mapping techniques: Sketch maps, mental maps, 3D models (P3DM).
  • Integrating traditional methods with digital GIS tools.
  • The role of facilitators in participatory mapping sessions.
  • Designing and structuring a participatory mapping workshop.
  • Techniques for eliciting and validating local spatial knowledge.

Module 3: Tools and Technologies for PGIS

  • Using mobile data collection apps for PGIS (e.g., Survey123, KoboToolbox, ODK Collect, QField).
  • Web-based mapping platforms for community input (e.g., ArcGIS Hub, custom web apps).
  • Utilizing satellite imagery and aerial photography in participatory sessions.
  • Basic GIS software (e.g., QGIS) for processing and analyzing PGIS data.
  • Hardware considerations for field-based PGIS (e.g., GPS devices, projectors).

Module 4: Crowdsourced Mapping Platforms and Data Contribution

  • Introduction to OpenStreetMap (OSM) as a major crowdsourced mapping platform.
  • Understanding the OSM data model: Nodes, ways, relations, tags.
  • Contributing data to OSM using various editors (e.g., iD Editor, JOSM).
  • Other crowdsourced mapping platforms and citizen science initiatives (e.g., iNaturalist, Safecast).
  • Strategies for organizing and motivating crowdsourcing campaigns.

Module 5: Data Quality, Validation, and Ethics in User-Generated Content

  • Challenges of data quality in PGIS and crowdsourced mapping: Inaccuracy, incompleteness, bias.
  • Methods for data validation and quality control: Peer review, expert review, ground-truthing.
  • Ethical considerations: Data ownership, privacy, intellectual property, equitable participation.
  • Ensuring data security and responsible data management.
  • Addressing power dynamics and potential for misuse of participatory maps.

Module 6: Integrating PGIS and Crowdsourced Data into GIS

  • Importing data from mobile apps and crowdsourcing platforms into a central GIS database.
  • Geoprocessing and transforming user-generated data for analysis.
  • Combining PGIS data with authoritative datasets for richer insights.
  • Creating thematic maps and visualizations from participatory data.
  • Developing workflows for ongoing data updates and maintenance.

Module 7: Analysis and Application of Participatory Maps

  • Using PGIS maps for community needs assessment and asset mapping.
  • Spatial analysis of community-identified issues (e.g., vulnerability mapping, resource allocation).
  • Communicating findings through compelling map products and spatial narratives.
  • Applying PGIS in advocacy for land rights, environmental protection, and social services.
  • Utilizing crowdsourced data for disaster response, urban planning, and infrastructure monitoring.

Module 8: Project Design, Management, and Sustainability

  • Developing a participatory/crowdsourced mapping project proposal: Objectives, scope, methodology, budget.
  • Stakeholder identification, engagement, and capacity building.
  • Project implementation strategies and timelines.
  • Ensuring the long-term sustainability of community-led mapping initiatives.
  • Measuring the impact and evaluating the success of participatory mapping projects.

CERTIFICATION

  • Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

  • Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

  • Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com

 

Participatory Gis And Crowdsourced Mapping Training Course in Tuvalu
Dates Fees Location Action
11/08/2025 - 15/08/2025 $1,750 Mombasa
Physical Class Online Class
25/08/2025 - 29/08/2025 $1,500 Nairobi
Physical Class Online Class
08/09/2025 - 12/09/2025 $1,750 Mombasa
Physical Class Online Class
15/09/2025 - 19/09/2025 $1,500 Nairobi
Physical Class Online Class
06/10/2025 - 10/10/2025 $1,750 Mombasa
Physical Class Online Class
20/10/2025 - 24/10/2025 $1,500 Nairobi
Physical Class Online Class
03/11/2025 - 07/11/2025 $1,750 Mombasa
Physical Class Online Class
17/11/2025 - 21/11/2025 $1,500 Nairobi
Physical Class Online Class
01/12/2025 - 05/12/2025 $1,750 Mombasa
Physical Class Online Class
08/12/2025 - 12/12/2025 $1,500 Nairobi
Physical Class Online Class
05/01/2026 - 09/01/2026 $1,750 Mombasa
Physical Class Online Class
19/01/2026 - 23/01/2026 $1,500 Nairobi
Physical Class Online Class
09/02/2026 - 13/02/2026 $1,750 Mombasa
Physical Class Online Class
23/02/2026 - 27/02/2026 $1,500 Nairobi
Physical Class Online Class
02/03/2026 - 06/03/2026 $1,750 Mombasa
Physical Class Online Class
16/03/2026 - 20/03/2026 $1,500 Nairobi
Physical Class Online Class
06/04/2026 - 10/04/2026 $1,750 Mombasa
Physical Class Online Class
20/04/2026 - 24/04/2026 $1,500 Nairobi
Physical Class Online Class
11/05/2026 - 15/05/2026 $1,750 Mombasa
Physical Class Online Class
25/05/2026 - 29/05/2026 $1,500 Nairobi
Physical Class Online Class
08/06/2026 - 12/06/2026 $1,750 Mombasa
Physical Class Online Class
22/06/2026 - 26/06/2026 $1,500 Nairobi
Physical Class Online Class