PARTICIPATORY SPATIAL PLANNING IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS GROWTH

Introduction


This essay is one of the assignment from Module 13 in which for the last 3 weeks in module 13 we learned about Participatory GIS (PGIS), its methods, issues, tools and concepts and also some exercise to get some experiences with the tools such as GPS, IPAQ (PDA) and Cybertracker. As a urban planning and management student I try to see the application of PGIS in he context of urban planning especially in dealing with the informal settlements growth mapping. From this 3 weeks.
PGIS is a combination of methods and tool of geo-spatial information such as sketch maps, Participatory 3D Models (P3DM), aerial photographs, satellite imagery, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in order to capture the spatial knowledge of certain people as a participant. The process of will become an interactive process in which researcher and participant learn each other about certain phenomenon with discussion, information exchange, and decision making.


PSP Problem
Rapid growth of informal settlements in developing countries constitutes one of the most intriguing forms of urbanization. This condition is characterised with the worse access to shelter and security of tenure results in severe overcrowding, homelessness, and environmental health problems. According to the UN Report within 30 years there will be one in every three people in the world will live in slums. This condition need to be a main concern among stakeholders, especially government to control unprecedented urban growth as trigger for this rapid growth of slum. The largest study ever made of global urban conditions has found that 940 million people - almost one-sixth of the world's population - already live in squalid, unhealthy areas, mostly without water, sanitation, public services or legal security.
Slums are spatial areas, and as such, it is important for stakeholders to have accurate data on where they are located within a city and the socio-economic and health conditions of the residents living in that slum. This information is particularly valuable for policymakers interested in designing upgrading, disaster mitigation, and health policies as well as for slum communities interested in organizing for service provision. Some tools that are valuable for documenting the location and characteristics of slums include, GIS mapping, land surveys, and household censuses.
A physical aspect of slum is a condition in which the condition of the settlement is occasionally troubled by the floods and burns, improper settlement infrastructure, environment sanitation, clean water source. Basically, the urban development - especially in developing country - is always followed by the growth of informal settlements. They grow along with city growth or as a trigger of an urbanization process and land use changing. Since the land use changing is happening because of the certain pattern or behaviour from the people in which the way the chose their place to live and also the way the chose their neighbourhood are really influenced the land use in certain area.
Community participation concept try to put the society become the subject of the development to maintain the continuity its development process to increase the living standard of its society themselves. The community participation itself is also one of the effective ways to increase the society living standard in the slum by themselves. So, in the slum upgrading, the active participation from the society is needed so that the process will be in progress base on their perspective. In the concept of participation of each party involved or involved expected to be able to participate in every stage where he was involved / engaged and perhaps quality and durability of decisions is likely to be greater by involving stakeholders in decision making (Reed, 2008).
Understanding the social and environmental impact of planning decisions on communities is providing valuable support in informal settlements upgrading since the combination of factors underpin the informal settlement growth ranging form organizational and behavioural aspects of individuals in a society and their interactions. Taking into account the characteristic of the social condition in the local context as a key agents in determining the future development of the informal settlements will give a greatest effect in settlement  upgrading (Sliuzas, 2003).


PGIS Context
Since, the idea behind PGIS is empowerment and inclusion of marginalized populations, who have little voice in the public arena, through geographic technology education and participation. So, In order to find the most realistic way in mapping the slum condition and the way the people want to upgrade their neighbourhood we try to list certain participant (sources) base on their background. This result will bring us to different perspective and understanding how to deal with these different. We will try to involve as much as householder who usually responsible for their family and try to find what they want for their neighbourhood.
After having this household input in which we assume that the input tend to be more individualistic base on their own preferences, then we try to make a generalization by looking at the perspectives of each Community leader in the neighbourhood. As we know, community leader could be base on the tribe, religion, NGO, culture or maybe the youth organization. Usually these community leaders are people who have certain influences among people and have certain role of influence in decision making.
As we know, Participatory approach is based on the democratic concept whereby people affected by decisions should be involved in the process of making the decisions, so the most important this is to identify the proper participant in the process. At least there are five steps that we can do in the process in dealing with participatory; 1) understanding the participants, 2) understanding the patterns of those participant such as how the respond and they way perceive the information, 3) base on the patterns that we have we can add new information, 4) give them some practice of skill such as simulation or interactive game, and 5) let them eplore and expose what they have in mind.
Women usually have different perspective about looking at their neighbourhood and how the like the neighbourhood in the future time vice versa with the other participant such as elderly who usually had some (good or bad) memory about their neighbourhood few years age. At least in this method we can make a characterization of community participation in the slum upgrading in based on their perspective about their area and what they want their area should be in the future time.


Participatory mapping techniques
Slum upgrading consists of physical, social, economic, and environmental improvements that are done in partnership with citizens, community groups, businesses, and local authorities. These improvements often focus on introducing or improving basic service provision, mitigating environmental hazards, regularizing security of tenure, providing incentives for community management and maintenance, and improving access to health care and education. In order to collect some information, we will try to get it from different sources to find more realistic view of people look their environment and the way the want to improve their environment. We will list them base on their background, role, gender, age and welfare, such as; household, women, local community leader, local NGO, religion leader, tribe leader, youth organization, children and elderly people.
For that kind of participation process we will need some data of socio-economic, biophysical and infrastructure network. We will need social cohesion mapping process to depict the social condition. The methods for the participatory collection for that spatial information are analyzing and comprehending on the view of slum dwellers about their area. This means first we have to dig the perception of the slum dwellers about their own environment. It will be useful in order to know the type of participation that we can apply it that area.
The society is supposed to participate in the process of planning, carrying, and supervising. Besides that, participation and involvement from the community is needed in the process of decision making in the initial planning stage, carrying, and supervising as well. Selecting and filtering a participant is not an easy task because of the different interest among them. This different interest / perspective caused by the different factors such as social cohesion (culture, tribe, religion, welfare) which give them different way in looking at their neighbourhood.
In mapping this perception of the slum dwellers about their own environment can be done with sketch mapping or mental mapping before giving them GIS base maps such as aerial photographs. This mental/sketch map will give more complete picture about slum dwellers perception of their environment. Then we can ask them to map or point out every spot that is important for them in order to know which place should or should not upgrade by using GPS or PDA. We also let them to map the boundary of their plot/parcel base on their LSK and check all the data in the GIS base map.
Even some tools in PGIS is claimed to be user friendly such as GPS or PDA/Cybertracker which can be use for illiterate person, but still some problem emerge in the process of mapping. From my point of view (since I have try some tools), the tools are quite complex especially for the slum dweller because of the menus and the step is not straight forward. For example in mapping with PDA/Cybertracker, there are some steps that we have to do, from setting up the tools and some steps to input the data in the tools. Dealing with slum dwellers which most of them are from low income and low education background, these tools seems to complicated for them. Another problem that I also found was in connecting these tools with PC/Laptop. These tools are not directly connected with PC/Laptop but we have to download certain program.


Value of Local Knowledge in this context
With this PGIS Local people and communities are empowered to take control of something that is related to their own livelihood (Wang, Yu, Cinderby, & Forrester, 2008). One of the case study is participatory geographic information systems (PGIS) into rural participatory land use planning (PLUP) in Shanxi province, China. Novel community mapping and modelling methods linked to GIS for implementing community-based planning,
Generally, GIS is considered to be a top-down and elitist approach, which can disempowered disadvantaged groups and further distance them from the decision-making process. The design of the PGIS process is mainly based on participants’ abilities and needs, for example, lower education of villagers, poorer equipment in local planning institutes, and high aspirations amongst local communities for expressing their perspectives in planning process.
However, in recent times, GIS combined with participatory approaches have been used to empower and involve local people in decision-making process on the development and management of their natural resources. Such PGIS are increasingly being adopted and accepted in both developing and developed countries around the world. By combining PGIS tools with community surveys and focus groups leads to enhanced data quality and develops relationships based on greater understanding and trust between local government officials and slum dwellers.
PGIS can be a useful tool and communication medium to facilitate participatory planning to collect and Geo-reference local spatial knowledge as an input directly into GIS database and can be check and visualized using digital maps. For example in Pune, India, the people from slum areas was doing their own census and collecting their own socio-economic data, base on location, legal status, hazardous area, the availability of infrastructures, socioeconomic condition such as; caste, religions, languages spoken, and year of establishment of the slum were collected. After collecting this data, the will checked all the data in the GIS base maps in order to see the validity and reliability of the data. From this output GIS base maps and the information which have put in the maps base on the LSK, the slum dwellers and local authorities were using these maps for the upgrading project such as build community toilets and some infrastructures in the spot which proper and accessible for the slum dwellers.
Another example is the adoption of community based approaches to upgrading in Dar es Salaam as a part of a more general reform of urban planning and management. This process is more participatory and seeks to improve the quality of the relationship between the state and civil society in which communication and information sharing between the public sector and civil society is an essential element (Sliuzas, 2003). Participatory approaches can be used to mobilize community resources and allow formal organizations to gain access to the assets and information that exists in informal channels (Sliuzas, 2003)


Role of multi media as additional source of (local) knowledge
In dealing with slum, I think the role of multimedia as additional source still depend on the traditional device such as newspaper. Because using internet base is still expensive for them and slum condition is not internet base area. Most of the slum dwellers are not familiars with internet / PC and they prefer for simpler and not expensive media to know something new such as information about their area.
At least we can use multimedia in combination with conventional tools (both traditional and digital) such as texts, still images, animations, audio and video productions and interactive platforms (offline or online websites) to enrich and transform knowledge from slum dwellers. Combination process in PGIS in slum is a better way to open up new possibilities in planning practice dealing with different socioeconomic and cultural factors. This combination of tools and technology with conventional practices will evoke the lived experience (the spirit, memories, and desires) of slum dwellers and can help democratize planning processes.


Mobile GIS (GPS, PDA/IPAQ, and Cybertacker)
Mobile GIS in PGIS practice has some advantages that use of geographic data in the field on mobile devices. Mobile GIS integrates three essential components; Global Positioning System (GPS), rugged handheld computers, and GIS software. With this mobile GIS makes the database directly accessible to field based personnel which eliminate paper map books and printing costs.
In dealing with slums or informal settlements this Mobile GIS especially PDA/Cybertracker is useful in order to get the slum dweller perceptions and how the perceive about their neighbourhood. With these tools we can map the spot or area base on the slum LSK. But the process of mapping by local community with mobile GIS is not easy, since most of the slum dweller have low education background especially dealing with IT such as computer. For example, even in operating PDA most of the application is easy to learn and actually comes natural for us since we know such technology which similar to the menu of PC, but still we face some problems with the unstable or difficulty in Bluetooth connections and connection problems to the GPRS network. We have to learn more for the setting up, especially to get use how to connect the GPS and the PDA.
So, I think the slum dwellers participation by using this the mobile GIS only in the basic way, such as input data because to connect with data preparation from PC it will become our (researcher) duty. For ordinary community member, I think it will need some times for them to learn this device, especially to get use with certain menu and how to prepare the dataset into this device. It also needs time for them to have some understanding about the menus and how to link this device GPS by using Bluetooth.
At least by involving the slum dwellers in the process of slum mapping, we have valid data since the community actually know better their area and have certain memories and value. From the information we gathered from slum dwellers, we will know their local spatial knowledge about what should and should not do in certain spot. Participatory Mobile GIS will give them more fixed information about their land boundary, because the difference perception among them in interprets their plot because of the density and tenure insecurity.


Ethics and PGIS (good practice)
Mobilizing communities to get involved in the mapping process helps ensure that governments don’t simply use maps for their own purposes. The process of creating maps helps people develop a familiarity with maps and area-based representations of their communities, allowing them to evaluate externally produced maps more confidently and negotiate more knowledgeably. In doing PGIS, the people who involve in the process will promote trust between slum dwellers and government. Those who had always been suspicious with the slum upgrading programs, will no longer doubt about the purpose of the program that will give positive impact for them.
In order to build the trust among actors in slum upgrading some good practices has to conduct, such as identify equitable representation, raise up community good will, understanding social cultural sensitive issues and proper preparation. In dealing with community it is also important to classify who will participate, the contact person (leadership) and proper preparation such as tools and media of the participatory process.
In the process of participatory try to open, honest and transparent in the process and create a trust among actors to build a good relationship. This will give valuable and confidence information and not to be rush in the process of participation. After that, when all the process have finished, give feedback and use the information in fair and in accordance wit the main purpose of the program.


Enabling and/or disabling factors
Enabling factors:
In doing PGIS some enabling factors are emerge. The quality of leadership and the power wielded by community leaders is an important factor in upgrading projects. The leaders may play gatekeeper between the community and outside agents, and filter information in order to minimalist the conflict between community and external agen. The existence of committed leadership will influence the level of community involvement, since they will become the spokesman for other community. Their role in this process will be like a facilitator and enabler between different stakeholders and different actors in the process. 
In the slum area educational background is another factor that we have to concerns, both the local leader and other members of committee in participatory process, is an important aspect in sustaining local community involvement. It will make them better understanding about their objectives and problem in their neighbourhood, also more innovative in mobilize and connected with other stakeholders.
In dealing with participatory processes which always involve different stakeholders, it is very important to setting up better mechanism in doing this participatory process. In Dar es Salaam, the mechanism of participatory is starting from the initiative of community with the assistance of certain organizations/institutes in making their vision more clear and rational.
Understanding the socioeconomic condition of community is also one of the important thing in enabling community involvement. Community have their own perception and perceive their environment base on their socioeconomic background. Rich people will have different perception compare with poor people about their living condition; certain tribal and religious community will perceive different way in looking at their involvement in planning processes; or even gender matter will also have influence such as in Dar es Salaam in which most of the women organization play certain role in the land regulation process.
Knowing local knowledge is very important because of the complexity of informal settlement. This complexity is the result of the diversity and condition of the society consisting of many interests and backgrounds. This requires a good understanding of the values that grow in the community, to give a clear picture of the solution to existing problems. Social interaction and social cohesion is also bring certain norm which affected the way of community attract in involving in the process.


Disabling Factors
Some disabling factors is dealing with bureaucratise such as the length and the state of bureaucratic matters dealing with community. The perception of community about bureaucratic matters is another problem, since community sometimes saw bureaucratic in negative perspective. The political and policy value are also become problematic since involving community must built the trust between actors which involve in the process. Since, political and policy agenda is sometimes have hidden agenda in it, it will difficult in trust building in each actors. Understanding about area of interest sometimes is weak in certain condition. The objectives and aims of certain project are more focused than thinking about the real condition of the area. 

References:

Reed, M. S. (2008). Stakeholder participation for environmental management: A literature review. Biological Conservation, 141(10), 2417-2431.

Sliuzas, R. (2003). Opportunities for enhancing communication in settlement upgrading with geographic information technology-based support tools. Habitat International, 27(4), 613-628.

Wang, X. J., Yu, Z. R., Cinderby, S., & Forrester, J. (2008). Enhancing participation: Experiences of participatory geographic information systems in Shanxi province, China. Applied Geography, 28(2), 96-109.