MAPS for PUBLIC PARTICIPATION in WATER MANAGEMENTConceptual limits and possibilities

Sébastien CAQUARD

Department of Geography - Dartmouth College

Water Time SeminarOct. 02, 2003 – Cordoba, Spain

[NB This presentation has been modified slightly in order to reduce its size for presentation on the Watertime website.]

Introduction

“The better citizens are informed, the better they can participate”

Public Participation = information access

Maps are designed to disseminate information

Public Participation is part of water management Present in many international conventions

To make information understandable with regard to regions and localities

Maps might be useful for improving public participation…

Conceptual limits

1. Maps for Public Participation

2. Example of maps for water management

Conclusion

Multimedia maps and Public Participation

3. Technological evolution and perspectives

Introduction

Analysis of a French Cartographic Guide

Map quality

Map reader experience

Map reader perspectives

Map reading is related to:

1. Maps for public participation - Conceptual limits

Maps are great tools

To represent geographical information

But map reading is not universal

Each map is read differently by each user at each time

THEMATICTHEMATICMAPSMAPS

AnalysisCommu-nication

To better understand a situation (analysis)

To better communicate the results (communication)

Historically, thematic maps have 2 functions:

ExpertMapmaker

Non expertMapreader

2 levels of expert choices

1

2

1. Maps for public participation - Conceptual limits

Analytical

Communication

Thematic maps are subjective: present expert perspective

They are perceived as being objective...

“They represent the reality”

1. Maps for public participation - Conceptual limits

... because they pretend to be objective…

To present their point of view as reality

Maps never acknowledge this subjectivity

They are a mirror of nature

... Which gives to mapmakers a strong power

THEMATICTHEMATICMAPSMAPS

AnalysisCommu-nication

ExpertMapmaker

Non expertMapreader

The “false objectivity” of maps is a powerful tool

Maps present expert perspectives

Maps have never been designed to improve Public Participation

Designed by and for experts

Maps pretend to be objective

Makes them very powerful

1. Maps for public participation - Conceptual limits

Maps do not provide egalitarian access to information

Depends on the map readers’/makers’ perspectives

2. Example of maps for water management

Analysis of a French Cartographic Guide

SAGE Guide Cartographique

Watershed = management unit

Local participation (Local Commission of Water)

SAGE (Water management schema) = framework

5 stages

In France water management is based on the 1992 law

2. Examples of maps for water management

Analysis of this cartographic guide

Stage 1

Inventory

Stage 2

Diagnostic

Stage 4

Strategy

Stage 3

Scenarios

Stage 5

Actions

A cartographic guide (national)

Based on local examples (Drôme watershed)

Maps have been chosen to improve public participation

2. Examples of maps for water management

Only experts are involved in stages 1 & 3

Information mappedStage 1

Inventory

Stage 2

Diagnostic

Stage 4

Strategy

Stage 3

Scenarios

Stage 5

Actions

Very nice graphically…

…but quite technical

Stage 2 & 4: expert maps

Example

2. Examples of maps for water management

Stage 1

Inventory

Stage 2

Diagnostic

Stage 4

Strategy

Stage 3

Scenarios

Stage 5

Actions

Very nice graphically…

…but quite technical

Stage 2 & 4: expert maps

Only experts are involved in stages 1 & 3

Information mapped

Expert maps disguised as non expert ones

2. Examples of maps for water management

Reinforce existing hierarchies

Maps and hierarchies

National guide

Based on existing administrative structure

Stage 1

Inventory

Stage 2

Diagnostic

Stage 4

Strategy

Stage 3

Scenarios

Stage 5

Actions

2. Examples of maps for water management

Reinforce local hierarchies: Downstream Vs. Upstream

Stage 1

Inventory

Stage 2

Diagnostic

Stage 4

Strategy

Stage 3

Scenarios

Stage 5

Actions

More pollution downstream… but no further actions to take

Environmental issues are not primary

Maps and hierarchies

At different level: National, Regional & Local

Thematic hierarchies: Environmental Vs. Economic

Maps present expert perspectives

Public is not involved in fundamental stages

Maps reinforce existing hierarchies

2. Examples of maps for water management

These maps are not designed to improve Public Participation

How to improve maps for public participation

3. Technological Perspectives - Multimedia Maps

How technological maps might be used?

Represent information as well as its limits...

... On the same document...

... Without discrediting the entire map…

Represent different perspectives on information...

… without graphical limitations

Interactivity

Multimedia

Interests of this “plural map”:

3. Technological Perspectives - Multimedia Maps

Technological maps have also some limits

Easy to use

Integrates different levels of knowledge

Highlights information limitations and the false objectivity of the map

Destabilizes the authority of the map

Information access gap between users

Map “false objectivity” (Technology like GIS)

Expert knowledge dissemination (Internet)

Risks: Technological maps might increase

3. Technological Perspectives - Multimedia Maps

Interest of multimedia is not primarily technological

Destabilizes the authority of the map

Difficult to generate

Limits for its development

In a top-down context...

… to disseminate expert perspectives

Maps have been designed

Conclusion & Perspectives

Multimedia maps give the opportunity to

Challenge this “traditional” map conception

… by changing map representation

The interest of technology is primarily conceptual

Rethink the place of information in Public Participation

Give it a place better adapted for societal evolutionTHE END

1. Maps for public participation - Conceptual limits

Maps for (water) management have been produced

By experts… for experts

To better understand/analyze the situation

Maps for (water) management were originally tools for experts

Nicer

Clearer

Easier to understand

These maps look

1. Maps for public participation - Conceptual limits

But they still represent

Expert information…

Maps for communication are still expert maps

More recently these maps have been designed for a wider public

Politicians, citizens, etc.