Interaction design of community-driven environmental projects (CDEPs): A case study from the Anacostia Watershed

Abstract

Water is becoming an increasingly precious resource across the world, but citizens can help ensure good-quality water by helping to manage their local watersheds. Local, place-based advocacy projects that are strongly grounded within their geographical area have the potential to inspire environmental change as citizens come together to collectively address environmental challenges in their own neighborhoods. However, less attention has been given to these small, intensely place-based local projects. Our research focuses on the interaction design of technology to support small, local, place-based “community-driven environmental projects” (CDEPs) for water management in the Anacostia River Watershed. Analysis of case study data collected over a 3-y period to identify the needs of CDEP members provides the basis for the interaction design of technology known as NatureNet to support CDEPs. From this research, six design insights for supporting CDEPs are suggested: (i) a shared common endeavor connected to the identity of the members, (ii) ways for newcomers and experienced participants to share a common space and function together effectively, (iii) support for different sources of knowledge, (iv) different modes of participation and ways for participants to express themselves, (v) different ways to express status through diverse opportunities, and (vi) support for porous and changing leadership roles. Taken together, the findings from our study suggest a preference for technology-lite, highly flexible software that supports the diverse needs of CDEP members.

Creativity and collaboration: Revisiting cybernetic serendipity

“…Jennifer Preece et al (35) describe community-driven environmental projects as an emerging form of citizen science. These locally led small groups who have physical meetings, facilitated by mobile applications and web sites, take on projects that directly benefit their communities.…”

When human-computer interaction meets community citizen science

“…Previous work has shown that a strong partnership among scientists and citizens has great potential to prompt decision making and produce policy changes [11]. For instance, The Community-Driven Environmental Project co-designed its technology platform, NatureNet, with naturalists and community members to successfully support local watershed management, such as engaging residents in installing rain barrels [9]. When connected to CCS, sustainable HCI further explores how researchers take on the role of supporters that facilitate utilizing and disseminating technology, instead of supervisors that oversee and control the entire community engagement procedure.…”

Empowering local communities using artificial intelligence

“…It is inspired by community-based participatory research 11 and popular epidemiology, 12 in which citizens directly engage in gathering data and extract knowledge from these data for advocacy and activism. Examples involve co-designing technology for local watershed management, 13 understanding water quality with local communities, 14 , 15 and using geo-information tools to monitor noise and earthquakes. 16 CCS intends to extend the scope of previous frameworks to Sustainable Development Goals, especially the goal of sustainable cities and communities.…”