C A N D E L A S A N C H E Z C A N D E L A . S R E @ G M A I L . C O M

PARTICIPATORY MAPPING IN PUNE’S SLUMS - INDIA

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• Ambitions of Research

• Overview of the Area

• Partners and Participants

• Mapping Shankar Maharaj

• Challenges

• Observations

1. AMBITIONS OF RESEARCH

Aims

• To further understanding of the

feasibility and limitations of

using VGI and Web 2.0

technologies to map slums in

India.

• To further understanding of the

political, social and technical

impediments of participatory

mapping and the ability this

has to empower slum

communities.

1. AMBITIONS OF RESEARCH

Objectives

1. Participatory Mapping

2. Mapping: what for?

GeoreferencedSMS Reports

3. Project based on (1) and (2):

Crowdmap

4. Empowerment,

really?

2. OVERVIEW OF THE AREA

1: 54500

Source: Source: Mapbox (TileMill) on the left and OpenStreetMap on the right.

2. SHANKAR MAHARAJ

Source: OpenStreetMap (left) and google maps (right).

3. PARTNERS AND PARTICIPANTS

Partners: Mashal NGO

• MASHAL (Maharashtra Social Housing and Action League) – founded in 1985.

• NGO based in Pune which works in partnership with Pune Municipal Corporation to implement Slum Rehabilitation Projects.

• Pune Slum Atlas

3. PARTNERS AND PARTICIPANTS

Participants: Shankar Maharaj

• Around 15-20 people came to the general meetings we had at Shankar Maharaj.

• 2 people volunteered to map Shankar Maharaj

• 13 women volunteered to send SMS reports

4. MAPPING SHANKAR MAHARAJ

1. Initial Phase: Meetings (Mashal and Shankar Maharaj)

2. Mapping:

a. Recording Tracks and POIs

b. OSM

3. Crowdmap and FrontlineSMS

4. Final Phase: SMS Reports

4. MAPPING SHANKAR MAHARAJ

1. Initial Phase: Meetings

2. Mapping:

a. Recording Tracks and POIs

b. OSM

3. Crowdmap and FrontlineSMS

4. Final Phase: SMS Reports

4. MAPPING SHANKAR MAHARAJ

1. Initial Phase: Meetings

2. Mapping:

a. Recording Tracks and POIs

b. OSM

3. Crowdmap and FrontlineSMS

4. Final Phase: SMS Reports

4. MAPPING SHANKAR MAHARAJ

1. Initial Phase: Meetings

2. Mapping:

a. Recording Tracks and POIs

b. OSM

3. Crowdmap and FrontlineSMS

4. Final Phase: SMS Reports

4. MAPPING SHANKAR MAHARAJ

1. Initial Phase: Meetings

2. Mapping:

a. Recording Tracks and POIs

b. OSM

3. Crowdmap and FrontlineSMS

4. Final Phase: SMS Reports

5. CHALLENGES

Challenges

Technical

PoliticalSocial

5. CHALLENGES

Technical

• (very) Narrow streets and weak GPS signal

• Tags given with QGIS/JOSM were not recognised after uploading

data to OSM (Potlatch tagging)

• Lack in the range of tags recognised by OSM

• Not enough “resolution” in OSM

• SMS: Language

4. CHALLENGES

Technical

• (very) Narrow streets and weak GPS signal

• Tags given with QGIS/JOSM were not recognised after uploading

data to OSM (Potlatch tagging)

• Lack in the range of tags recognised by OSM

• Not enough “resolution” in OSM

• SMS: Language

• 38 POIs were recorded

• 21 show on the OSM map

4. CHALLENGES

Technical

• (very) Narrow streets and weak GPS signal

• Tags given with QGIS/JOSM were not recognised after uploading

data to OSM (Potlatch tagging)

• Lack in the range of tags recognised by OSM

• Not enough “resolution” in OSM

• SMS: Language

4. CHALLENGES

Social

• Language

• Difficult and very time consuming to organise meetings in Shankar

Maharaj

• Difficult to gain the trust of the community

• Maps – what for?

• Who actually benefits from participatory mapping?

4. CHALLENGES

Political

• Opposition from Local Government (PMC)

• Opposition from Area Corporators

• SMS were banned by the National Government due to protests and

riots in Pune and Mumbai

5. OBSERVATIONS

• Digital Divide: Wide access to mobile phones and few people

have computers at their houses.

• Community Participation: Time

• Empowerment does not exist as a concept?

• “Participation is still dependency”

• Data boom – no room for “qualitative” information?

• Participatory Mapping unsustainable?

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to especially thank Robin McLaren for sponsoring this

project and for his academic support. I would also like to thank

William Mackaness for his enthusiasm and great support.

Finally, I am extremely grateful to MASHAL and the people of Shankar

Maharaj for welcoming me and allowing me to work with them.