Mapping Change for Sustainable Communities

1
Mapping Change for Sustainable Communities
In Hackney Wick, children from a local primary
school used paper and web-based mapping to
familiarise students with the surrounding area
and its various facilities (Fig. 5), and to
encourage a sense of pride in their community, in
addition to acquiring map reading skills. Working
with the teachers throughout, activities were
closely related to the current school
curriculum. The outcome is a map of the
children's work on the schools website and their
own layer on the community map.
East London and the Thames Gateway are facing big
changes in the coming years. The Mapping Change
for Sustainable Communities project is using
mapping to make getting involved a little easier
and a lot more effective.
www.communitymaps.london21.org
The Royal Docks community expressed concerns over
noise pollution from London City Airport.
Provided with noise meters by UCL and London 21,
local residents were trained in how to use the
devices, to conduct their own local noise
monitoring. The outcome of this monitoring is
the creation of a noise map of the area (Fig.
4)..
Fig 1. Paper based mapping
Community engagement involves a series of
workshops to highlight facilities , local
organisations and events (Fig. 1) that are
captured and form part of an interactive local
map, that will serve as a community resource
(Fig. 2). Various local issues and concerns are
identified, and the exploration of different
methodologies to tackle some of these. The maps
draw together a variety of information gathered
by local people, and highlight their identified
priorities. They will be managed and maintained
by the local community who will decide what
should be displayed on the local map.
Fig 3. Noise monitoring in Royal Docks
.
Fig 5. Paper mapping field trip with children
from Gainsborough Primary School
Community members also raised an interest in
capturing local history, and work to develop a
historic element to the Hackney Wick map has
started. This will provide a way to capture local
heritage and ensure that focal elements, such as
the allotments and playing fields, are not
forgotten and will hopefully be integrated into
new developments.
Project particulars Funded by the UrbanBuzz
programme Duration 19 months
Fig 4. Royal Docks Noise Map
For further details contact louise.francis_at_london
21.org