From geodata to dialogue: the transformative power of PPGIS in mining
Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) combine the power of local knowledge and geographic information systems, providing place-specific information about where the bonds between people and places are.
New research highlights a critical lack of publicly available geolocated data in the mining sector. This not only harms how people see mining but also makes it hard for them to know what is going on and where. Improved data availability and transparency could foster public trust. However, enormous data gaps prevent this from happening. The public only gets bits and pieces of the picture, and it makes it hard for experts to make smart decisions about the real impact of mining.
On a local scale, it is important to have more information about how people live with mines. Things like how close-knit the communities are, the traditions they hold and where, how safe they feel, and how connected they are to the mine, the mining company, and other places in their neighborhoods. Currently, there is a big gap in this kind of information, especially for places with closing mines.
As we focus more on keeping ecosystems healthy while mining, we also need to think differently about how people and the ecosystems connect. It is not just about facts and figures; it is about understanding the special feelings people have for certain places — how a place on a map means something special to someone.
Mining industries and places
The relationship between places and mining industries is multifaceted and complex. Industries extracting minerals such as coal, gravel, stone, or metals change the land to access and extract these valuable resources. The extraction can shake up the environment and the people who live close by. The impact can be extensive and often irreversible, depending on factors like how the mining is done, how big the mine is, the laws and regulations in place, and how much the local communities are involved.
In my previous work, I talked about how mining disrupts dynamic interactions between people and places that existed before the extractions. When mining happens in a place, it changes the place and how people feel about it. People find new ways to connect to these changed places based on how they feel about them and what they value in them.
Landscape values
The concept of landscape values is used by researchers to capture the significance that individuals attribute to the places where they live, work, or just hang out. These values are like the personal connections people have with places, whether it is the road they drive on, the buildings they see, or the trees and plants around them. Looking at things from this perspective helps to pinpoint exactly what people value about certain locations. These values can come from obvious benefits, like making money or having fun outdoors, but they can also be about deeper, more abstract feelings, like finding beauty or feeling a spiritual connection to a place.
Mapping out landscape values using Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) can provide valuable information about exactly where people feel connected to certain places. This is not just about understanding the environment better; it also helps communities feel like they have a say in what happens in their area. By valuing landscapes beyond their economic contributions, the mining industry can show respect for both the natural environment and the diverse human experiences intertwined with it.
PPGIS: Public Participation Geographic Information Systems
The idea of ‘Public Participation Geographic Information Systems’ (PPGIS) was born in 1996 at the meeting of the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis in the United States. It was created to describe how GIS (Geographic Information System) technology could help involve the public more in decision-making processes. PPGIS brings together GIS technology and mapping practices to highlight the important connections between people and the environment at the local level.
PPGIS mapping helps mining industries and other decision-makers by answering questions like, “What makes certain places important to everyone, and why do people care about them?” It is all about understanding the significance of places to communities and individuals, and informing decisions based on these insights.
Since the 1990s, PPGIS has been widely used for various purposes such as community planning, environmental and natural resource management, and even mapping indigenous traditional ecological knowledge. However, its application in mining industry projects has been limited.
“PPGIS helps us figure out exactly where and how people value landscapes. It’s about understanding that landscapes hold value beyond what they can give economically, acknowledging the environment and the variety of human experiences linked to it.”
Why could using PPGIS be beneficial for mining industries?
Using PPGIS methods in mining promotes collaboration, transparency, and sustainable development by engaging with communities, incorporating local knowledge about the area and the communities living there, and enhancing the overall quality of spatial data used by the mining industry and regulators to make better decisions.
PPGIS could offer four major benefits for the mining industry:
1. Community engagement and empowerment
PPGIS activities empower local communities to actively participate in decision-making processes related to mining. By engaging stakeholders via PPGIS, potential conflicts between mining companies and local communities can be identified spatially and addressed early in the planning stages. Plus, seeing data on maps helps everyone see how mining might affect local resources and livelihoods.
2. Local knowledge integration and data quality improvement
Bringing in local perspectives ensures that PPGIS data accurately shows the complexities of the area. Local communities often possess valuable traditional knowledge about the environment, land use, and natural resources. Integrating this knowledge in the planning of mines helps create more accurate and comprehensive plans. Combining scientific data with detailed local information helps to understand the local context better and mitigates potential conflicts.
3. Enhanced decision-making
By involving diverse stakeholders via PPGIS, decisions related to mining operations can benefit from a broader range of perspectives. Maps created through PPGIS provide a visual tool for decision-makers to assess the potential impacts of mining on the environment and communities.
4. Improved communication
PPGIS maps are powerful communication tools. They can facilitate better communication between mining companies, regulatory bodies, and local communities by visually presenting data in an accessible manner. It helps bridge the gap between technical experts and community members, promoting effective dialogue.
Wrap-up
When PPGIS is used effectively, it can change how mining plans are made. It represents a paradigm shift in decision-making processes, integrating geographic information systems with the participation of communities impacted by extractive activities. PPGIS promotes inclusive practices that prioritize a multitude of perspectives and introduce detailed geospatial data into the planning mix.
Public Participation GIS aims to ensure that mapped values accurately mirror the unique perspectives of local communities. These communities consist of diverse individuals with varying beliefs and interests that extend beyond mere place names on a map. Assuming that values decrease in importance with distance is not accurate. Remote areas may hold significance just as much as nearby ones, albeit for different reasons. The remote areas should not be automatically deemed as ‘unvalued’ lands open to unregulated management, which might only be of concern to specific interest groups.
As we navigate the complex decisions about mining, it is important to think about all the different things that make places special. Just like we value the diversity of our communities, we should also appreciate the different things that make each place special. The transformative potential of PPGIS in reshaping how we plan for mining cannot be overstated. As a catalyst for a paradigm shift in decision-making processes, PPGIS not only generates vital geodata but also actively engages communities impacted by extractive activities. By rejecting simplistic assumptions about values and their location, we pave the way for responsible and just management of our mineral resources.
In our CESMINE project, we use PPGIS to identify places on rehabilitated mining sites that are valuable to local communities. We explore six localities across three European countries — Germany, Denmark and the Czech Republic — and analyze how different approaches to mine rehabilitation form the community values. CESMINE primarily centers on small-scale mining operations that yield industrial minerals and construction materials, including natural stone, sand, gravel, and limestone. Read more about CESMINE here.
Further reading
In this Medium blog article, I introduce our project CESMINE: Towards Positive Post-Mining Legacies
What happens to surface mining areas when mining activities are finished? How can these places turn into landscapes that appeal to people and contribute to their well-being? More in my Medium blog article: Turning mined lands into beautiful places: the aesthetics of ecological restoration
My insights into social-ecological research on post-mining sites are in this Medium blog article: What to Do after Mine Closure? Pursuing Community Benefits in the Transition to Post-Mining
