clipped from: www.iapad.org   

by Doug Aberley and Renee Sieber

Public Participation GIS … The term Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) was coined at the International Conference on Empowerment, Marginalization and Public Participation GIS, Santa Barbara, California 14-17 October 1998, to cover a specific geographical context (North America), and for a particular purpose -- how GIS technology could support public participation for variety of possible applications. While many changes have occurred both in terms of available GI systems, technologies, and processes, the term has rolled over without any action being taken to find a more appropriate one, better embodying the thrust and extent of the practice.
 

Is an interdisciplinary research, community development and environmental stewardship tool grounded in value and ethical frameworks that promote social justice, ecological sustainability, improvement of quality of life, redistributive justice, nurturing of civil society, etc;
Enables public access to cultural, economic and biophysical data generated by governments, private sector organizations and academic institutions;
Is about sharing the challenges and opportunities of place and situation in a transparent and celebratory manner.
Is best applied via partnerships developed between individuals, communities, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, religious or faith-based institutions, governments and the private sector;
Endeavors to always include a strong capacity building dimension in its application;