Flood Vulnerability Reduction, Using a Partial Participatory Gis Approach. A Study Case in Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Abstract

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> A partial participatory GIS approach was implemented in a community in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico to reduce vulnerability of floods caused by cyclones. A workshop was held to locate areas susceptible to floods, and understand measures already taken by the community as well as actions proposed towards vulnerability reduction. We used printed high-resolution satellite images and generative tools to gather data of workshops attendees. Then all information was transferred into a GIS. In addition, we conducted a survey to collect socioeconomic and adaptation data on 490 households (each one identified and spatially located). We analyzed through “chi square” and “gamma tests” the relationship between survey data and houses affected by floods. The map generated was reviewed by risk management experts and used as an input for map validation/refinement from the workshop. The final map was returned to the community and used as an instrument for communication, negotiation, risk management and vulnerability reduction, making spatially explicit areas affected by floods and proposed measures to reduce vulnerability. Despite not finding a statistical (co-relation) between the participants education and socio-economic levels or preparedness for risk and the affectations (impacts) by floods. The majority of people showed to be used to local knowledge preventive measures in their household under a cyclone alert and answered to feel prepared to a cyclone arrival. This cyclone awareness could be explained since in this community 40 % of the people had at least 12 years of education. Which is relatively high for a developing country as Mexico where the average of years of study is 9.1. Besides 87 % of the people get a medium to high value in a socioeconomic index created in this study.</p>

Exploring the integration of local and scientific knowledge in early warning systems for disaster risk reduction: a review

“…Participatory approaches were seen as the most concrete way to incorporate local knowledge with scientific knowledge (e.g. Mercer and Kelman 2009;Giordano et al 2013;Cruz-Bello et al 2018;Cuaton and Su 2020). Participatory approaches are divided into two: community engagement or bringing together community members for discussions, and participatory mapping (which also includes community engagement, but was identified as a separate category due to its technical focus).…”

“…Similar to scholars' community engagement approach, authors also create maps or information systems with local people. Employing a participatory geographic information system (PGIS) or participatory mapping approach contributes to addressing and understanding vulnerabilities through spatially explicit mapping local knowledge (Tran et al 2009;Valdivia et al 2010;Giordano et al 2013;Hung and Chen 2013;Cruz-Bello et al 2018). This method values the mapping products just as much as the process and enriches academic research by using inclusionary approaches to knowledge production.…”

“…the use of forecasts based on meteorological and hydrological scientific models, hazard maps based on scientific data sets) and centres on ways to include the local knowledge in a pre-defined scientific knowledge process or how local knowledge can be integrated with already established scientific procedures and tools (e.g. mapping, GIS or the weather forecast technology) (Tran et al 2009;Valdivia et al 2010;Giordano et al 2013;Hung and Chen 2013;Cruz-Bello et al 2018).…”

Fundamentals of Volunteered Geographic Information in Disaster Management Related to Floods

“…An interesting approach was presented in [22] who refer to the Chametla community located in Baja California that aimed to reduce the risk of negative consequences in the event of a potential flood occurrence in Baja California, Mexico. The community received appropriate training by experts.…”

“…Initially the VGI term described digital data production activities, as a result of the Web 2.0 technologies which evolved user interaction through the World Wide Web [18,19]. However, as the volunteered procedures with spatial context evolved through the last decade, and considering the similar terms mentioned previously, the scope of VGI, is highly related, among others, to digital activities for community self-organizing [20] or other participatory activities that may not contain computer interaction at all [21,22].…”