Crowd Sourced Maps: Cognitive Instruments for Urban Planning and Tools to Enhance Citizens’ Participation

Abstract

For centuries, mapping activity has been carried out by experts, in particular for mili-tary purposes or land administration, infrastructure planning, and environmental mon-itoring. It was only within the last decade that technological innovations in computer science, positioning, and navigation devices have facilitated citizens direct involve-ment in urban mapping. In particular, crowdsourced mapping shows potentials for urban and participatory planning. It allows people to create and share geographical information with few costs and expertise. Real-time data collection can have differ-ent aims: thematic map creation, collective story-telling, or social empowerment and counter-geography. Some critical points still exist. However, virtual maps can be con-sidered alternative tools to enhance civic participation and to identify spatial and so-cial opportunities for urban transformation. 1 Introduction For centuries, mapping has been carried out by experts who followed mapping and quality assurance procedures. They were mostly trained professionals working for military interests or cadastre and civilian authorities responsible for land adminis-tration, infrastructure planning and environmental monitoring. It was only within the last decade – from the launch of Google Map in 2005 – that citizens themselves have started to become involved in mapping activity. Technological innovations in positioning and navigation devices and in computer science have set the conditions