Mapping with Communities in London Colleen Whitaker London 21 Sustainability Network

Overview 1. Background to London 21 and Mapping 2. Our two community mapping projects 3. Community Mapping Methods 4. Reflection on Mapping with Communities

Who are London 21 An environmental charity promoting and supporting community-based initiatives for a more sustainable London A network of over 1500 local groups and organisations working towards sustainability www.london21.org

An environmental charity promoting and supporting community-based initiatives for a more sustainable London

A network of over 1500 local groups and organisations working towards sustainability

www.london21.org

Mapping and GIS in London21 Five years ago pioneered the first online, interactive “GreenMap” www.londongreenmap.org Now two dedicated mapping programmes run with support from UCL: Environmental Inequalities Programme Mapping Change for Sustainable Communities ( UCL-led)

Five years ago pioneered the first online, interactive “GreenMap” www.londongreenmap.org

Now two dedicated mapping programmes run with support from UCL:

Environmental Inequalities Programme

Mapping Change for Sustainable Communities ( UCL-led)

Why Community Mapping? Official information doesn’t always tell the whole story. What do communities want to map? Mapping as a way to…. find out facts about an area bring new issues to the table communicate with local authority and decision- makers identify key issues for action planning make comparisons between areas

Mapping as a way to….

find out facts about an area

bring new issues to the table

communicate with local authority and decision- makers

identify key issues for action planning

make comparisons between areas

Overview 1. Background to London 21 and Mapping 2. Our two community mapping projects 3. Community Mapping Methods 4. Reflection on Mapping with Communities

Mapping Environmental Inequalities The London 21 Project seeks to map environmental issues from the community perspective We use community-gathered (“local”) information to highlight environmental issues and priorities. Pilot programme in five communities

The London 21 Project seeks to map environmental issues from the community perspective

We use community-gathered (“local”) information to highlight environmental issues and priorities.

Pilot programme in five communities

Main Objectives Communities…. Identify concerns about their local environment Create maps - Build their capacity to use and link existing data and collect their own data. Use the maps to develop related action plans

Communities….

Identify concerns about their local environment

Create maps - Build their capacity to use and link existing data and collect their own data.

Use the maps to develop related action plans

Mapping Change for Sustainable Communities (MCSC) UCL-led project. Partners: London21, Planning Aid for London, London Thames Gateway Forum, Christian Nold (artist) Focus on communities in the Thames Gateway Aim: use community mapping to empower communities facing big changes . Support them to understand and get involved in what’s happening in their area.

UCL-led project.

Partners: London21, Planning Aid for London, London Thames Gateway Forum, Christian Nold (artist)

Focus on communities in the Thames Gateway

Aim: use community mapping to empower communities facing big changes . Support them to understand and get involved in what’s happening in their area.

MCSC: Main Objectives Communicate the views and needs of communities with local authorities, decision-makers, developers and planners. Identify and provide detailed information on impending development projects likely to affect community. Provide links to available “official” information and alternative sources

Communicate the views and needs of communities with local authorities, decision-makers, developers and planners.

Identify and provide detailed information on impending development projects likely to affect community.

Provide links to available “official” information and alternative sources

Community Maps MCSC project is creating a new web-based tool to facilitate this process First community mapping website of it’s kind www.communitymaps.london21.org

MCSC project is creating a new web-based tool to facilitate this process

First community mapping website of it’s kind

www.communitymaps.london21.org

Community Maps Website

Where are we working Hackney Wick (Hackney) Archway (Islington) Marks Gate (Barking and Dagenham) Haringey (a comprehensive school) Pepys Estate (Lewisham) Royal Docks (Newham) Thames Ward (Barking an Dagenham)

Hackney Wick (Hackney)

Archway (Islington)

Marks Gate (Barking and Dagenham)

Haringey (a comprehensive school)

Pepys Estate (Lewisham)

Royal Docks (Newham)

Thames Ward (Barking an Dagenham)

Overview 1. Background to London 21 and Mapping 2. Our two community mapping projects 3. Community Mapping Methods 4. Reflection on Mapping with Communities

Introduction of existing data to groups Discussion and identification of initial priorities General perceptions mapping Focused evidence gathering Digitisation and Display Website and online maps The Mapping Process

The Mapping Paper-based exercises with small groups within communities Online exercises (Google Maps and Community Maps) Primary school and youth groups– classroom and field days. Secondary school – interviews with community members Focused evidence gathering

Paper-based exercises with small groups within communities

Online exercises (Google Maps and Community Maps)

Primary school and youth groups– classroom and field days. Secondary school – interviews with community members

Focused evidence gathering

Identifying community facilities, organisations and key issues

Perceptions and Issues Mapping

School – community interviews

Google Mapping Exercises

Community Maps Website

Focused Evidence Gathering Royal Docks – Noise monitoring – concerns over planned increase to flights at LCA Pepys Estate – Noise monitoring – concerns over noise generated by commercial business Archway – Pedestrian Surveys

Royal Docks – Noise monitoring – concerns over planned increase to flights at LCA

Pepys Estate – Noise monitoring – concerns over noise generated by commercial business

Archway – Pedestrian Surveys

Noise Mapping

GIS – behind the scenes

Barking and Dagenham Positive Youth or ASB Litter/Rubbish/Graffiti General Maintenance Safety Traffic/Transport/Parking Other Facility Improvements

Noise Map

Overview 1. Background to London 21 and Mapping 2. Our two community mapping projects 3. Mapping Methods 4. Reflection on Mapping with Communities

Mapping with Communities Allow people to develop their own measures/indicators. They become the “experts” Communities need support and encouragement Think about who is contributing / Personalities within the community

Allow people to develop their own measures/indicators. They become the “experts”

Communities need support and encouragement

Think about who is contributing / Personalities within the community

Try to make sure activities don’t exclude those who are less map literate or with little IT experience. Use paper-based mapping exercises to augment digital/computer mapping.

Try to make sure activities don’t exclude those who are less map literate or with little IT experience.

Use paper-based mapping exercises to augment digital/computer mapping.

Questions?