Participatory GIS for Integrating Local and Expert Knowledge in Landscape Planning

Participatory Gis (P-Gis) Methods

Landscape planning problems are often complex, require the contribution of experts from differing fields, engage both private and public institutions, involve stakeholders in diverging interests and, generally, affect a large number of people (Voss et al., 2004). As highlighted in the European Landscape Convention (ELC), landscape perception by locals becomes a focal point in landscape analysis and interpretation (European Council, 2000). Thus, their participation becomes an increasingly important component in landscape decision-making (Vajjhala, 2006). In traditional planning, local communities are not directly involved in landscape analysis, and they may express their opinions only during the final phase of participation. Conversely, modern participatory spatial planning (PSP) is based on the involvement of citizens and other stakeholders in the various phases of the process. In the PSP approach, participants may influence the final contents of the plan and have the opportunity to enhance their awareness about the characteristics and values of “their” landscapes. Participation may have a variety of additional goals, from the building of relationships (as in communicative planning) to prescription or goal selection (as in instrumental rationality) (Talen, 2000).