PPgis.net, the Open Forum on Participatory Geographic Information Systems and Technologies

A note from Giacomo Rambaldi:

PPgis.net is an informal network of development / GIS practitioners and researchers operating in developing countries, First Nations and elsewhere. Members share common interests in participatory spatial information and communication management, community mapping, participatory GIS practice and science, spatial thinking, memory, and language, cognitive maps, and more. Their prime objective is to provide disadvantaged groups in society with added knowledge-based resources in interacting with higher-level institutions, negotiating territorial issues, participating in land/resource use planning, management and decision-making, and influencing policy-making.

In building a community of practice around the concepts of Public Participation GIS (PPGIS)/Participatory-GIS (PGIS) the network aims at stimulating exchange of information on progress made in bringing the power of spatial information management systems at community level. The network supports the vision of participatory spatial information management linking different knowledge systems and improving multi-party communication on spatially defined issues.

Members of the network can share information and lessons learned and post questions, resource documents and announcements which are relevant to the practice.  The discussion forum is open to registered members and moderated by development practitioners and researchers with worldwide experience in a number of relevant disciplines.  The discussion platform is provided by Dgroups, a joint initiative of Bellanet, DFID, Hivos, ICA, IICD, OneWorld, UNAIDS, and World Bank.