Title: Public participation GIS and neighbourhood recovery: using community mapping for economic development

Authors: Michelle M. Thompson

Addresses: Department of Planning and Urban Studies, University of New Orleans, 301 Milneburg Hall, New Orleans, LA 0148, USA

Abstract: In 2005, New Orleans, Louisiana experienced an interruption in its neighborhood life cycle due to Hurricane Katrina. While federal, state and local administrative policies have tried to manage the process of recovery, the non-profit sector has been a key to the recovery. This paper will examine the case study of the Beacon of Hope Resource Centre (BOH) whose ability to collect data, expand citizen engagement and influence policy made a positive impact upon economic development through public participation geographic information systems (PPGIS) with the Regional Planning Commission and the Department of Planning and Urban Studies, University of New Orleans. This successful neighbourhood planning model provides an understanding of how PPGIS partnerships can support and encourage community engagement and economic development pre- and post-disaster.

Keywords: geographic information systems; GIS; hurricane Katrina; public participation; community planning; New Orleans; USA; United States; neighbourhood recovery; community mapping; economic development; citizen engagement; emergency planning; disaster planning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDMMM.2015.067632

International Journal of Data Mining, Modelling and Management, 2015 Vol.7 No.1, pp.24 - 38

Published online: 31 Mar 2015 *

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