Ease-of-use and Effectiveness of Participatory GIS in Empowering Rural Communities by Nagesh Kolagani

Participatory GIS in Empowering Rural Communities:Development and Field Trials

3rd International Open Source GIS ConferenceVelp, The Netherlands

June 25-28, 2012

Nagesh Kolagani, Dr. Palaniappan Ramu and Dr. Koshy VargheseIndian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036 INDIA

Google Map of Reservoir and Farms

Does not know their descriptive data; Does not show other needed features (e.g. wells)

Village Youth gathering such Data using GPS & Questionnaires

For point layers:(such as wells)‏

As GPS 'way points'

For line and polygon layers:(such as streams and farms)‏

As GPS tracks:Can not deviate from boundaryDifficult for streams, farms, etc due to presence of thorny bushes, etc.OK for roads, etc.

As GPS routes:User interface is difficult for use by a villager

As GPS 'way points':To be joined later using GIS

Collecting Spatial Data as GPS Waypoints

A Sample Questionnaire for Farms Layer

School Children Producing GIS Maps from Such Data

villageQGIS: Auto-connecting GPS points

Entering Questionnaire Data into Appropriate GIS layer

Using villageQGIS software: (e.g. 3 clicks)For each feature of each layer (of type line or polygon):

Constructing lines and polygons from GPS point data:- specify way points to join as a string e.g. “209-213, 218, 221-224”- visually verify correctness of boundary points & joined line/polygonConverting lines and polygons into GIS features:- select layer name from a list box e.g. “streams” or “farms”- fill resulting attribute form with data from questionnaire

Using QGIS software: (e.g. at least 17 clicks)For each feature of each layer (of type line or polygon):

- Select desired feature and select option to add new a feature- For each GPS point: (e.g. 209,210,211,212,213,218,221,222,224”)

- locate it on the screen, using find button or appropriate label option- draw a line connecting it to previous point

- fill resulting attribute form with data from questionnaire- Save

Comparison of villageQGIS and QGIS

A Sample Village Map

Tutorial

Input data:GPS and Questionnaire data about:

- a stream and a reservoir- farms under that reservoir, etc

Task:Create a GIS map:

- first using villageQGIS- then using QGIS (or Map Windows GIS)

Compare the time taken and map accuracy

...

Querying Attributes of Mapped Features

Easy Interface to View Complex Data in Simple Ways

This will help villagers understand their problems & solutions and participate better

Default Views: Farms Classified based on Social Data

Multi-Criteria Classification e.g. Technical & Social Data

Interface for Local Experts to Build Custom Views

Experiments on Ease-of-Use in Map Preparation

● Participants:

6 sub-groups of 3 village students each

● 3 sub-groups use Quantum GIS software (Control group)

● 3 sub-groups use villageQGIS software (Test group)

● Task:

Produce GIS maps from given GPS and Questionnaire data sets

Experiments on Ease-of-Use in Map Preparation

1 2 30

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3QGISvillageQGIS

Ratio of times taken (with QGIS and

with villageQGIS)

Experiment no.

Experiments on Ease-of-Use in Map Preparation

1 2 30

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3QGISvillageQGIS

Ratio of times taken (with QGIS and

with villageQGIS)

Experiment no.

Desired spatial

accuracy