The document discusses Talking Points Collaborative Mapping (TPCM), a participatory GIS tool configured by ESRI for the US Forest Service. TPCM allows the public to leave comments on specific locations on a map in order to involve them in planning processes like forest revisions. It meets the USFS requirements for public involvement and uses ESRI's crowd sourcing applications. Project managers can view and respond to comments in real time. TPCM saves the USFS money by using ESRI's configurable applications which are maintained by ESRI.

1. Layers
Use the agencies hosted layers on AGOL, or host your own unique feature
layer by sharing the layer as a hosted service in ArcGIS for Desktop, to create
your project’s map.
Talking Points Collaborative Mapping (TPCM):
ESRI’s Crowd Source Reporter and Manager
Configured for Use by the USFS
What is Participatory GIS?
Participatory GIS is an emerging
field that utilizes GIS technologies
to involve the public. The traditional
scoping method of mailed
comments didn’t give specific
geographic locations nor did it allow
for a dialogue among the public.
Participatory GIS on the other hand
allows comments to be tied to
specific locations and, if desired,
allows the public to respond to
each other.
What need does it fill?
The Forest Service Planning Rule mandates public involvement in national
forest planning and encourage the pro-active use of contemporary tools
such as the Internet to engage the public (36 CFR 219.4). Public
involvement shall occur in assessment, proposal, and monitoring stages
and tools which are interchangeably useful in all stages and all types of
stakeholders and individuals are especially useful. The TPCM website
meets this need and provides similar opportunities for use (1) entirely
within a national forest for intra-staff communications and (2) to collect
compare and study similarities and differences in public comments across
all participating national forests.
Manager Application
Project managers can view all comments in real time while the comment period is still open using
ESRI’s Crowdsource Manager application. These comments can be hidden or revealed as desired,
replied to by managers, removed from public view, and much more!
TPCM Overview
Talking Points Collaborative Mapping was
created in accordance with the Forest
Service Planning Rule that mandates public
involvement in National Forest Planning and
encourages the pro-active use of
contemporary tools to engage the public (36
CFR 219.4). TPCM helps the USFS meet the
Open Gov Initiative, "creating an
unprecedented level of openness in
Government."
TPCM is a configuration of ESRI's ArcGIS
online Crowdsource Reporter/Manager
applications branded specifically for USFS
use. Using ESRI's configurable applications
saves the USFS and taxpayers’ money by
eliminating operation and maintenance costs.
ESRI takes care of code updates,
development, and security protocols and
works with the USFS to perfect the
applications.
TPCM helps to meet the USFS
community participation and public scoping
needs by receive public comments and
threads on an online map. TPCM can be
used for any public scoping need including
Forest Plan Revision, Developed Recreation,
Forest Restoration, Wilderness, National
Scenic Trails, and other projects that require
public input. This online application can even
be tailored for inter-staff communication and
collaboration!
Forests can track and manage public
comments; databases are automatically
generated, and can be easily exported as
File Geodatabase, CSV, or shapefiles.
Individually and collectively, data mined from
these public scoping efforts can provide rich
sources for public reporting, as well Forest-
wide, regional, or national meta-analyses.
ESRI’s Configurable Crowdsourcing Applications
Crowd Source Reporter and Manager are ESRI’s ArcGIS Online (AGOL) configurable applications
that have been rebranded and configured by the USFS as Talking Points Collaborative Mapping
(TPCM). These applications allow managers to collect geospatial comments from the public.
Disclaimer of Liability: With respect to this document, neither the United States Government nor any of its
employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular
purpose, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information,
apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe upon privately owned rights.
TPCM owes thanks to all our partners at Esri, USDA Forest Service
Teams: Ecosystem Management Coordination (EMC) – Human Dimensions
Program, FS Chief Information Office (CIO), FS Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW),
FS Geospatial Management Office (GMO), Regions 3 & 4 GIS & Planning Subject
Matter Experts and FS Enterprise Program WebGIS Team.ESRI Federal GIS Conference, Washington, DC
February 13-14, 2017
Creating a New Project Easy as 1… 2… 3…
1) Create a Map
Comment Feature Layer
Copy the preconfigured TPCM empty comment feature layer from the USFS
organization to your project folder on AGOL and add it to your map. This will
be used by the application to collect and export comments. Comments can be
exported as a shapefile, CSV (Excel), or a file geodatabase for analysis.
Branding
Crowd Source Reporter allows us to configure applications using our own
branding and images. Each project has a unique splash page (pictured below)
and the configuration of each app is very simple.
Source:
http://www.esri.com/software/configurable-apps
Reporter Comments
Once the application is published comments can be left with points, lines, or polygons
(each project can be configured to use one or a combination of all geometry types).
The commenter can sign in without an account and can easily comment. The
commenter can choose to leave a name or contact information, though this is
completely optional. Others can then reply to the comment, creating a conversation.
1) Create a Map
2) Configure the
Application
3) Publish
Advantages of Using TPCM
TPCM has numerous advantages over traditional scoping techniques such as:
• Increased spatial referencing of public comments, especially with regard to other available national forest data
layers
• True collaborative capabilities allowing public commenters to communicate with each other as well as with Forest
Service staff in “real time” discussion as opposed to collection (with contact information optional and confidential)
• Easy integration of photos and URL links to other documents
• Automatic documentation of comments and spatial locations
• Potential for NFS wide comparisons of public comment themes and trends
• ArcGIS Online platform is compatible with standard Forest Service GIS format
• Easy and very low cost to implement with available help desks
• Saves the agency and tax payers’ money