Photo credits: UCLG

DESCRIPTION

A map is an ancient tool which has a long tradition of being used to generate insights about the city and to aide in the development of planning solutions. It has a wide range of applications and, since the advent of digital technologies, its modes of application have multiplied.

While there are many and diverse mapping tools, the following ‘smaller tools’ have the potential to add value for Mediterranean city leaders and inspire further uses – or even the development of new mapping tools.

UCLG’s ‘Base Plan’ employs a traditional approach which seeks to combine different relevant data points in a single map, in order to create a common understanding of the current situation of a given intermediary city. A key element is the focus on projects realised in the last 10 years and projects that are planned for the upcoming 10. The tool has been designed especially relevant for intermediary cities given that they may face challenges with respet to technical capacity.

Moreover, there are examples of different cases where digital mapping techniques are applied:

Harassmap is a social enterprise from Egypt which allows women to report incidents of harassment as well as successful interventions to stop harassment via various channels and digitally maps them. It then sends volunteers to hotspots to talk with local stakeholders and develop a vision of a harassment-free districts.

The Cyberparks monitoring tool is an application that allows users to give real time feedback on the interaction of users with public spaces. The insights generated from employing this tool can also be mapped and used for planning adaptations in the public realm. The app is currently testing the combination of mapped information with augmented reality features.

Relevance

Despite having a long tradition, the digital age has brought infinite more possible applications to mapping. The presented possibilities here are only a small excerpt and may pose inspiration for future mapping applications.

LINK

Base Plan

Harassmap

Cyberparks Tool

SOURCE

UCLG

Harassmap

DeustoTech

LANGUAGES

UCLG Base Plan: English

Harassmap: English & Arabic

Cyberparks Tool: English