Community Mapping

What is this method about?

A deep research activity that assesses, documents and maps specific community assets (local resources and institutions). Stakeholders work with community members to gather and map relevant data, which is used to identify community needs and to develop programs and policies that can improve the community.

Why use it

This activity helps to develop a comprehensive view a community’s strengths and weaknesses—identifying hidden and potential assets, and providing community members with insights that allow them to effectively target specific community improvement strategies and empower them to take action.

When should I use it?

Whenever a community has undergone significant change or fallen into neglect. The activity should be one of the first steps taken if a community or local council is seeking to develop a community improvement or development plan—either proactively or in response to concerns within community.

What you get

The community will gain a deeper understanding of the state of community assets. Research results will be used to generate new strategies and action plans. The activity will help build community spirit and engagement. Step 1 – Identify the vision and goals in terms of community priorities. Stakeholders from each segment of the community must discuss and articulate what the vision is for the mapping exercise, highlighting why it’s being done and what they hope it will achieve. Figure 1 Identify the vision and goals in terms of community priorities. Actions Stakeholders from all parts of the community must be involved in the planning. Gather the appropriate people e.g. councilors, business owners, residents, council employees and local workers into the workshop environment – even a library or the local school could be a suitable place. Explain the activity to all those present and why it is being done. As a group have detailed discussions around what is envisaged for the community, and document. Identify and discuss what problems exist and the results of the problems, and document. E.g., There is a high crime rate and this affects the cost of security of the home and business as well as affecting the re-sale value of properties and children don’t feel safe walking to school. Review discussion notes and create a comprehensive vision statement. Identify and discuss specific goals within this vision,and write them out. Questions Is everyone onboard with why this exercise is being undertaken? It is key stakeholders are committed and engaged. How many goals to do you have that will get you to your vision? Does everyone understand the benefits this could bring if done right? Step 2 – Discuss, design and outline the mapping plan. Discuss in-depth what the plan is for the mapping exercise, including timelines, people involved, how mapping data can be gathered and submitted (the methods) and the geographic area. Figure 2 Discuss, agree and outline the mapping plan Actions Working on whiteboards, first determine the exact geographical area to be included and who will be expected to participate in the activity. You may decide to target a particular age-group in the community, for involvement, but this is more unusual. Discuss and determine when the activity take place, and whether it should be done over a number of days. This will be based on which is the best time for people to do the exercise, so it would be good to have working and non-working days. Discuss and determine how the mapping data is to be gathered and recorded. E.g. You may decide that using a mapping service like google maps is the best way to go for your community, as everyone has internet access. This is also useful for analyzing data afterwards! Discuss whether there will be manual way of recording data, such as taking notes on a clipboard, and if so, how this data will then be gathered for inputting into analytics software. Explore other areas like cellphones and cameras as they’re a great way for recording information. Write out all of your decisions on the whiteboard, using imagery and color if possible to make it a more engaging and visual representation of information. Take photos of your working session to show other members of the community and include in reporting documents later in the process. Setup a kick-off session to communicate your plan to the wider community before the activity starts. Questions Will physical maps of the geographic location be provided? Have you considered table-top mapping rather than an actual walk around the community? Which online mapping service can you use that is free and accessible to all? If community members take photos and fill in sheets of notes, how will they get these files and information to the stakeholder group? Who is responsible for ensuring all information gathered is supplied to the team? Step 3 – The community conducts the mapping activity. At the start of the mapping, communicate the plan activity ensuring that everyone knows what to look for that, how to record the information, and how to send it back. The community then proceed with the mapping exercise, with the workshop stakeholders acting as advisors during the activity, should they be required. Figure 3 The community conduct the mapping activity. Actions. Community participants are briefed on to what they need to and how to do it (according to the mapping plan developed by stakeholders). Participants then go about gathering information—recording everything that relates to assets within the community. This is normally done as a physical exercise, walking around the community, but it may not be possible for all (e.g. the disabled or elderly) and therefore table-top mapping should also be used.[Note: Assets are are all of the resources and institutions that make-up the community—from the people themselves to the buildings, services and environment. E.g, the local park, the trash man, the bank, the library, the post services, etc.] Participants should “map” everything they record in their data gathering—either on a physical map or online mapping service—and support it with photos. Stakeholders are on hand throughout the mapping activity to offer advice. At the end of the mapping activity, if data has not been submitted “on the go”, then this must be gathered by the stakeholders from the community members. Questions Was table-top mapping considered? What methods of data gathering were encouraged? E.g. taking photos What are the main types of assets that people recorded? How were services assets recorded? A sticky note perhaps? Step 4 – Gather and analyze mapping data, identifying strengths and gaps. Gather any outstanding mapping data and input all the information into software for analysis, such as Mapper or Google Maps. Once the data has been processed, review with the rest of the group identifying strengths within the community and gaps. Figure 4 Gather and analyze mapping data, identifying strengths and gaps Actions The group members should try gather any outstanding data from the mapping activity although in some cases you will not know if it is outstanding, as community engagement is entirely optional. If you have used online mapping tools, most of your data will already be there. Input the rest of the data into mapping tool (or input all data into different analysis tool). Run analysis with the data, exploring different scenarios that are relevant to your vision and goals. Review and discuss the results in-depth, questioning all the data and establishing what the community strong points are and where there are gaps or weaknesses. Questions What different scenarios did you explore in the mapping software? Were there any surprises found in the data? On average is the community considered “strong and health” or “weak and has issues” Which of the strengths could you explain upon? What weaknesses are there that could be eliminated or reduced? Step 5 – Stakeholders create a community action plan Take some time to absorb the results of the exercise and then brainstorm and come up with ideas to get to your vision, based on the mapping results. Use the selected ideas to create a community action plan building on strengths and eliminating weaknesses, using gaps as opportunities. Figure 5 Stakeholders create a community action plan Actions Reflect on the activity feedback and the implications for the community. Brainstorm ideas for how the strengths can be built upon, and how the weaknesses can be eliminated or reduced. Identify at the gaps in community assets and brainstorm ideas about how they could be filled. Reveiw all of these ideas in relation to vision and goals and narrow them down to maintain focus. Take these key ideas and use them as a basis to build a community action plan. The community action plan document will not be done overnight, so stakeholders should use notes from the workshop and each work on key areas of the action plan over the next few weeks. Appoint two or three team members to be responsible for compiling and submitting the community action plan. Questions How many ideas were found that applied directly to the vision and goals? Are the team confident they can professionally prepare a community action plan document? If not, consider getting help from external design firm from within the community to help put this together into a more professional format. Who will be responsible for the final completion of the community action plan?

At a glance

• Time: Long
• Effort: Medium
• Cost: Medium

Materials

• Magic whiteboard
• Markers / felt tips
• Meeting space
• Video and/or cameras (for mapping activities)
• Physical map of the area or access to an online mapping service (for research)
• Word processing software (for reporting)

Who is involved

• Community representatives (stakeholders)
• Researcher
• Service Designer