Emerging conflict in collaborative mapping: Towards a deeper understanding?

Abstract

In spatial planning and environmental management, maps are found very helpful in many situations, but in other situations they may also deepen conflicts or be ignored. This paper addresses the question what explains such phenomena, with particular emphasis on, and reference to, collaborative policymaking settings in the Netherlands.We have elaborated the concept of 'frames' and 'framing' to structure and analyze the function of maps in the context of deliberative policymaking. With help of discourse analysis, a method adopted from the policy sciences, we have observed ongoing multi-actor processes and focused on discussions around maps in several case-studies. From the observations of both the maps themselves and the discussions and actions with the maps, we have interpreted the meaning and frames represented 'in' the map images, as well as the various perspectives of actors 'on' the collaborative use of the map. We have 1 Present address: School of Management, Spatial Planning group, Radboud University Nijmegen, Thomas van Aquinostraat 3, P.O. Box 9108, 6500 HK Nijmegen, the Netherlands. tel: ++31 24 3612724. email address: L.Carton@fm.ru.nl 1 conceptualized three fundamentally different perspectives or frames on the function of maps in the decision-making process. The cross-frame debate over maps is illustrated with the recollection of one particular map-making example. We conclude that the conflicts observed in a number of case studies can be adequately explained with help of the three identified frames, and provide some recommendations for the profession of mapping.

Map-based multicriteria analysis to support interactive land use allocation

“…The output of map-based MCA can play an important role in participatory spatial decision-making but is not always easy to handle and present to different groups of stakeholders. Although often helpful for participatory planning, maps can also be a source of conflict (Carton and Thissen 2009 MCA provides numerous methods to evaluate, compare, rank and present the performance of decision alternatives on the basis of several criteria and/or objectives. GIS is used to map and present the performance of alternatives.…”

“…In developing the tool, special attention is given to the design of the maps used to support negotiation. In practice, effective use of maps is a difficult task for many people and the use of maps for evaluation is not a task most people are familiar with (Kraak and Ormeling 2003, Andrienko et al 2007, Carton and Thissen 2009). The tool is applied within a land use planning process in the Netherlands.…”

Making framing of uncertainty in water management practice explicit by using a participant-structured approach

“…Framing means that individuals make sense of the world in different ways in that they cannot and do not consider all details and information of a certain situation simultaneously but select the elements of their interest and concern (Gray, 2003;Dewulf et al, 2004Dewulf et al, , 2009). The concept of framing has gained more and more attention in research on environmental problems (Gray, 2003;Newig et al, 2005;Dewulf et al, 2005;Kamp, 2007;PahlWostl et al, 2007;Henriksen and Barlebo, 2008;Carton and Thissen, 2009;Renn and Schweizer, 2009) but has not been applied yet to uncertainties, Bardwell (1991) being a notable exception pointing to the importance of framing of uncertainties and the differences in the search of solutions it can make. With regard to uncertainties, framing relates to the understanding of uncertainty as relational.…”

“…It is thus important in each context to make the different framings explicit in order to enhance mutual understanding, broaden the scope for action and enable dealing constructively with the uncertainties. Otherwise conflicts are likely to arise, manifest and become intractable as every actor is caught in his framing without understanding the others' point of view or making an effort to do so (Gray, 2003;Purnomo et al, 2005;Tippett et al, 2005;Carton and Thissen, 2009;Turnpenny et al, 2009).…”

How will climate change affect spatial planning in agricultural and natural environments? Examples from three Dutch case study regions

“…Climate change in the Netherlands will increase these spatial conflicts [3], due to the likely changes in the functioning of agriculture, ecosystems and the urban environment. Effects of climate change will be both direct, through changes in CO 2 , temperature and precipitation, as well as indirect, mainly through changes in water-related habitat factors like salinity, acidity and the availability of moisture, oxygen and nutrients.…”