Community Mapping Research Articles

Improving breast cancer outcomes for Aboriginal women: a mixed-methods study protocol

IntroductionBreast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer affecting Australian women, and the second highest cause of cancer death in Australian women. While the incidence of breast cancer is lower...

Exploring The Perceived Landscape with The Local People: The Experience of Community Mapping in Orduzu District (Malatya/Turkey)

Purpose The main purpose of the paper is to define historical landscapes through locals’ perspectives and employs community mapping as a tool for defining and transferring perceived landscape elements Design/Methodology/Approach The method used in this research consists of various stages, such as determining the boundaries of the study area, determining the goals and objectives of the community mapping, evaluation of the mapping process in the examined toolkits, and the community mapping process design specific to the study area according to the toolkits reviewed in the literature, and the outputs and observations obtained from the maps. Findings As a result of the community mapping study conducted with men and women separately, items under the themes of agriculture (past and present), hydrology, tangible cultural heritage, intangible cultural heritage, built environment, connectivity, flora and fauna were identified. In this study, beyond the recognized physiographic features of the district, were discovered its “unseen” components due to the statements of locals and the analysis of the perceptual data they provided. Were acquired verbal information and point data about some archaeological sites that are not mentioned in any records or literature, as they remain undiscovered. Research Limitations/Implications This study bridged an establishing a new link with sustainable spatial planning by assessing perceptions of local people to the environment they live in. However, this study has limitations in the verbal and linear expressions of the groups participating in the mapping process.In the pre-mapping process needs to be supported by local government and non-governmental organizations for more participants. Social/Practical Implications it is suggested that the use of this methods such as spatial data production (on historical differences in landscape) within the mainframe of the participant planning approach and community mapping (to ensure collective wellbeing by creating healthy, sustainable spaces) and the inclusion of these methods in spatial planning stages will prove significantly useful. Originality/Value This study provides a framework for integrating different perspectives to better recognise and planning and manage the landscape character. This framework can be used as a foundation for a planning process in touch with “real life” and “users”.

Characterization of External Mucosal Microbiomes of Nile Tilapia and Grey Mullet Co-cultured in Semi-Intensive Pond Systems.

The external mucosal surfaces of the fish harbor complex microbial communities, which may play pivotal roles in the physiological, metabolic, and immunological status of the host. Currently, little is known about the composition and role of these communities, whether they are species and/or tissue specific and whether they reflect their surrounding environment. Co-culture of fish, a common practice in semi-intensive aquaculture, where different fish species cohabit in the same contained environment, is an easily accessible and informative model toward understanding such interactions. This study provides the first in-depth characterization of gill and skin microbiomes in co-cultured Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and grey mullet (Mugil capito) in semi-intensive pond systems in Egypt using 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing. Results showed that the microbiome composition of the external surfaces of both species and pond water was dominated by the following bacterial phyla: Proteobacteria, Fusobacteriota, Firmicutes, Planctomycetota, Verrucomicrobiota, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteriota. However, water microbial communities had the highest abundance and richness and significantly diverged from the external microbiome of both species; thus, the external autochthonous communities are not a passive reflection of their allochthonous communities. The autochthonous bacterial communities of the skin were distinct from those of the gill in both species, indicating that the external microbiome is likely organ specific. However, gill autochthonous communities were clearly species specific, whereas skin communities showed higher commonalities between both species. Core microbiome analysis identified the presence of shared core taxa between both species and pond water in addition to organ-specific taxa within and between the core community of each species. These core taxa included possibly beneficial genera such as Uncultured Pirellulaceae, Exiguobacterium, and Cetobacterium and opportunistic potential pathogens such as Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, and Vibrio. This study provides the first in-depth mapping of bacterial communities in this semi-intensive system that in turn provides a foundation for further studies toward enhancing the health and welfare of these cultured fish and ensuring sustainability.

Fine-Scale Mapping of Mega-Epibenthic Communities and Their Patch Characteristics on Two New Zealand Seamounts

Seamounts are common features of the deep seafloor that are often associated with aggregations of mega-epibenthic fauna, including deep-sea corals and sponges. Globally, many seamounts also host abundant fish stocks, supporting commercial bottom trawl fisheries that impact non-target benthic species through damage and/or removal of these non-target species. However, the effects of bottom trawling on seamount benthic communities, as well as their recovery potential, will vary over the total seamount area because of differences in within seamount habitat and community structure. It is therefore important to understand fine-scale community dynamics, community patch characteristics, and the environmental drivers contributing to these patterns to improve habitat mapping efforts on seamounts and to determine the potential for benthic communities on seamounts to recover from fishing disturbances. Here we analysed the structure and distribution of mega-epibenthic communities on two New Zealand seamounts with different physical environments to determine which environmental variables best correlated with variation in community structure within each seamount. We used the identified environmental variables to predict the distribution of communities beyond the sampled areas, then described the spatial patterns and patch characteristics of the predicted community distributions. We found the environmental variables that best explained variations in community structure differed between the seamounts and at different spatial scales. These differences were reflected in the distribution models: communities on one seamount were predicted to form bands with depth, while on the other seamount communities varied mostly with broadscale aspect and the presence of small pinnacles. The number and size of community patches, inter-patch distances, and patch connectedness were found to differ both within and between seamounts. These types of analyses and results can be used to inform the spatial management of seamount ecosystems.

Decolonizing local planning through new social cartography: making Black geographies visible in a plantation context in Colombia

ABSTRACT Maps produced during the saga of European ‘discovery’ were shown to erase local forms of spatial knowledge of colonised populations to serve domination interests. This paper explores the continuation of this colonial erasing logic in local planning practices in Jamundí, a municipality where Black peasants’ traditional farms persist in a sugarcane dominated landscape. We first compare official maps from the current Land Use Plan of Jamundí with social cartography produced by afro-descendant community councils to analyse the maps’ selections, omissions and additions. Through community map drawings and collective discussions during cartography workshops, interviews and tours of the territory, we then reconstruct a Black geography that is concealed in official maps. Our analysis shows that official maps naturalise a scale in which only plantations are formally represented, rendering invisible small-scale traditional agricultural systems and Black ecologies, favouring the expansion of uses and activities detrimental to Black territorial projects in Jamundí. We argue that afro-descendant living spaces and experiences are visually omitted from spatial representation in the physical planning maps through institutionalised processes. We conclude that decolonising local planning is crucial for the recognition and securing of afro-descendant customary land and territorial rights in Colombia as well as for regional sustainability.

Engaging communities through community mapping

Abstract Background Evidence shows that migrants and refugees in Germany don`t have equal access to drug prevention programs and harm reduction services, nor are they meaningfully engaged in their development. Participatory practice provides valuable tools for building capacity and enabling migrants, refugees and service providers to co-create knowledge and develop appropriate educational media and services. Methods For the project, ‘Harm reduction services for and with migrants in Germany” (PaSuMi), funded by the German Ministry of Health (2017-2020), a study design following the principles of Community-based participatory research was applied. We introduce the PaSuMi case study in Dortmund where community mapping was implemented with injecting drug users. Community mapping is a participatory process which enables the visual expression of characteristics, resources and needs of a community: a map of a community is drawn, analyzed in the group and used to determine steps for action. After outlining the theoretical framework and the steps for applying the method we discuss its advantages and limitations. Results Two community partners in Dortmund were trained as peers and supported to implement the method with their community. As a result a map of “places of trust and care” was created. This was made into a flyer which was distributed to new-comers for orientation, and to service providers to optimise their streetwork. Conclusions Community Mapping enables the participation of disadvantaged communities (e.g. people with low literacy skills) and work in multilingual groups. It works in various settings with low financial and time expenditure. The method can pose ethical challenges - especially when working with highly stigmatized communities. Main messages Community Mapping provides a tool for engagement of disadvantaged communities. It enables service providers to tailor their services better to community needs.

5.Q. Workshop: Participatory health research with refugees: Voices, experiences, and methodologies

The workshop addresses important deficits in public health discourses: a) Refugees are talked about too often and heard too seldom; b) they are the subject of research, but seldom the beneficiaries. Participatory methodologies offer an alternative. Involving refugees as research partners provides an opportunity to share the epistemic power of defining and interpreting reality. Research partners are valued for their skills, knowledge, resources and experience. Furthermore, collaborations aim to both understand and change reality so that communities may also benefit. In practice, participatory health research employs a variety of methods, including narrative, art-based and audio-visual methods. For example, photovoice combines visual data and group discussion: Members of a community take photos of their living environments, discuss them in a group process and analyse their situation to initiate change. Pictures and stories constitute the experiential ground from which new knowledge is gained, criticism is voiced and changes are proposed. When using such tools, it becomes tangible how legal restrictions as well as limited access to health care, education and the labor market decrease the health chances of refugees. Everyday experiences of uncertainty, racism and exclusion (e.g. through housing in segregated camps) pose substantial risks. On the other hand, individual and collective agency exists despite these adverse circumstances. The workshop aims to bring together community partners and researchers to discuss participatory health research with refugees and migrant populations based on three examples from Germany: 1) a photovoice project with refugees in Munich describes the Bavarian camps and shelters from within, showing in pictures and words how they make you sick; 2) a participatory project with female refugees in Hannover shows how digital health promotion through video and social media is developed in times of COVID-19; 3) a participatory project applying community mapping with injecting drug users in Dortmund illustrates how knowledge can be co-created to better tailor harm reduction services to refugee and migrant groups. The first two presentations are part of a research collaboration on “Vulnerability and empowerment: Participatory approaches to health promotion with refugees” (EMPOW), funded by the German Research Foundation (2019-2022). The third presentation is based on a community-based project on participation, drug use and migration (PaSuMi) funded by the German Ministry of Health (2017-2020). The presentations provide a chance to get inspired by the voices and experiences of community partners and learn from their experience. The benefits and also the challenges of engaging in participatory methodologies are discussed in small groups with workshop participants. A digital forum (chat/padlet) will accompany the workshop to enable further interaction, commentary, and networking during and beyond the conference.Key messages Refugees are important partners in research on refugee health.Through participatory methods, the lived experience of refugees constitutes a meaningful starting point for knowledge production and health promotion.

A Study of Local Government in Africa through Participatory Action Research (PAR)

A Study of Local Government in Africa through Participatory Action Research (PAR)

Malolos Heritage District: A cultural heritage mapping and inventory – 2020-2021

In the past, Cultural Mapping and Inventory has been used as a technique by some professionals in the 'Community Development' sector as a way of 'Mapping' community assets. How it was undertaken was largely dependent on who was doing it and why, most commonly it was used as a tool to identify the resources of communities and was referred to as 'Community Mapping’. If one were to ask what is Cultural Mapping we would firstly have to say that it involves mapping the Culture of who or what you are, be it a tribe, organization, community, group, school, association, business or an individual - to find your unique assets or strengths. Culture can in this case be defined as your intellectual property, your special way of being or doing, the purpose of your existence, the business you are in (or would like to be) or the special story that you have to tell, such as your reason for doing what you do. It is a process that has a purpose, and through the use of a proven ‘system’ Cultural Mapping outcomes can be harnessed and directed to create sustainable futures. Cultural mapping and inventory are an ongoing process. And many of its benefits can only be achieved through sustained efforts to update the cultural data and to compare it over time. Because of this, a need to comprehensively consolidate local culture profile and generate baseline data for cultural statistics of Malolos since it was Declared Heritage District in 2001. There would be comprehensive and detailed mapping and inventory that will be produced to serve as guide for validation of the remaining cultural heritage of Malolos that still survive amidst the surging urbanization of Malolos. The consolidated local culture profile and generate baseline data for cultural statistics that will recommend mechanisms to integrate profiles and baseline statistics in LGU development plans, programs, and activities.

Detailed GIS mapping of communities of plants with conservation status and defining the touristic zones in the group "Kanarata and Quarry Drenaka" of the protected area "Pobiti Kamani" (Northeastern Bulgaria)

Detailed GIS mapping of communities of plants with conservation status and defining the touristic zones in the group "Kanarata and Quarry Drenaka" of the protected area "Pobiti Kamani" (Northeastern Bulgaria)

Detailed GIS mapping of communities of plants with conservation status and defining the touristic zones in the group "Kanarata and Quarry Drenaka" of the protected area "Pobiti Kamani" (Northeastern Bulgaria)

The aims of the present study were: 1) to perform a detailed mapping of the distribution of conservationally significant (endemic, vulnerable, endangered and protected) plant species in the group "Kanarata and Quarry Drenaka" of the protected area "Pobiti Kamani" for 2020 yr in GIS environment; 2) based on the overlap of the distribution sites of plant species, to determine the "hot spots" of plant biodiversity, access to which should be limited in order to protect them and at the same time to identify areas with no or low concentration of conservationally important species in order to trace and mark the tourist paths in the protected area. In order to investigate the distribution of six plant communities, a detailed GIS mapping was performed. As a result of the study, detailed distribution maps of investigated species communities in Central Group were drawn. Special attention is paid to the zones where two or more communities were overlapped. The identification of the areas with concentration of conservation-significant species and localization of "hot spots" is crucial for protection management of the group "Kanarata and Quarry Drenaka" of the protected area "Pobiti Kamani". The model of "hot spots" and the model of overlapping are applicable and in combination with detailed distribution maps are fundamental for more successful protection and conservation. The suggested touristic zones with lack of conservation species can be used to trace and to construct environmentally friendly tourist trail and paths without destroying and harming the species, their habitats, and the aesthetic and recreational value of the landscapes.

Vegetation degradation assessment in the agricultural zone of Northern Mongolia

We conducted research to assess vegetation degradation in Selenge province described as the agricultural zone.Our research results based on the vegetation community map showed that 46.7 % of the total area is light, 3.3 % is moderate,13.9 % is strong, and 30.4 % is very strong degraded. Vegetation degradation was mostly observed in river valleys, lowerplains, hills and small mountains and mountain slopes due to the intensity of summer grazing. The moderately degraded areawas often winter places using as rotate or properly managed grazing land and light degradation has occurred in the forest area.Very strong degradation was revealed mainly in Saikhan, Orkhon, Javkhlant sub-provinces and strongly degraded in Sant,Orkhontuul, Baruunburen. Light degradation of vegetation were observed in sub-provinces adequately covered by forestincluding Eruu, Tushig, Shaamar, Khuder, but there are still problems related to mining and deforestation.

Sustainable Ageing: Supporting Healthy Ageing and Independence Amongst Older Turkish Migrants in the UK

In the UK, as in many other European countries, the population is growing older, and older adults are becoming more diverse. As a result, there is a mounting interest in supporting healthy ageing and independence, acknowledging the needs and agency of older adults from diverse backgrounds, expectations, and life trajectories. Healthy ageing is promoted as a critical component of sustainable ageing to ensure meaningful social and economic contributions through the life course for all individuals. However, the definitions of healthy ageing are debatable. The public and policy discourse treat all older adults through generic and homogeneous models that do not consider the heterogeneity of experiences and perspectives of old age among different groups. In this context, independence has often been defined in terms of functional independence, i.e., cognitive and physical functioning, as a core construct of healthy ageing. However, this focus excludes older adults’ interpretations and day-to-day experiences of this concept. This article investigates the interpretation and lived experience of independence amongst older Turkish adults in the UK as a central explanatory concept of healthy ageing. Semi-structured individual interviews (n = 48) and community mapping workshops (n = 5) were conducted with 65 older Turkish adults in London, supplemented by interviews with professional service providers (n = 13) within the community. The data collection was conducted between March and November 2017. We identified three main themes integral to understanding healthy ageing and independence: 1—interdependency and having reciprocal care relations; 2—individual autonomy at home and choice in housing options; and 3—functional independence, mobility, and control over the physical environment. Independence appears to remain an essential element of healthy ageing. However, it is a fluid and complex construct constantly negotiated around personal and community resources. Therefore, there is a need to develop more comprehensive interventions that capture the diverse experiences in old age to enable healthy ageing and social sustainability. These are timely considering current policy directions such as the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Factors Facilitating and Hindering Development of a Medication Use Review Service in Eastern Europe and Iran-Cross-Sectional Exploratory Study.

Polypharmacy is a common issue in patients with chronic diseases. Eastern-European countries and Iran are exploring possibilities for implementing the Medication Use Review (MUR) as a measure for optimizing medication use and ensuring medication safety in polypharmacy patients. The aim of this study was to gain insights into the development of the community pharmacy sector and map facilitators and barriers of MUR in Eastern Europe and Iran. The representatives of the framework countries received a questionnaire on community pharmacy sector indicators, current and future developments of pharmacies, and factors encouraging and hindering MUR. To answer the questionnaire, all representatives performed document analysis, literature review, and qualitative interviews with key stakeholders. The socio-ecological model was used for inductive thematic analysis of the identified factors. Current community pharmacist competencies in framework countries were more related to traditional pharmacy services. Main facilitators of MUR were increase in polypharmacy and pharmaceutical waste, and access to patients’ electronic list of medications by pharmacists. Main barriers included the service being unfamiliar, lack of funding and private consultation areas. Pharmacists in the framework countries are well-placed to provide MUR, however, the service needs more introduction and barriers mostly on organizational and public policy levels must be addressed.

Community Based Assessment of the Changes of Provisioning Ecosystem Services of Aral Haor of Sylhet District

Haor is a well-known wetland feature in Bangladesh because of its dynamic ecosystem which is changeable with the seasonal variation. The majority people of the community are critically dependent on the haor. This paper attempts to analyse the provisioning ecosystem services of Aral Haor of Sylhet District, their changes and why the changes occurred during the last 30 years since 1990 to 2020 through community assessment. The papers argues that the community based approach integrates the local people to reveal the actual scenario of the livelihood dependency on the provision ecosystem services as they are the main user of the provisioning services. Thus the primary data were collected through observation, FGD, Community Mapping and interview with experts. The study found that community the service providing area of the Aral haor have not been changed in mentionable level over the 30 years, however the shape of the haor have been changed slightly due to high sedimentation. Along with rice cultivation during dry season, natural irrigation, fishing and bird nesting were most important to provisoing services to the community which have been changes due to both natural and anthropogenic activities. The study concludes that even having importance of the Aral hoar, not any measurer has been taken by local authority to conserve the Aral hoar ecosystem services those are very vital for the livelihood of the thousands of community people living nearby.

Conceptualizing Social Determinants of Neighborhood Health through a Youth Lens.

This study reports on findings from a youth participatory action research of children’s well-being and health. We draw upon the Social Determinants of Health framework, including a focus on structural racism and intersectionality, to holistically explore the ways in which youth (ages 13–17) experience multiple forms of marginalization within the neighborhood, and how these experiences influence their well-being outcomes. We employed the data collection techniques of focus group discussion, community mapping, photovoice, and follow-up small group discussions with 14 African American youth in Cleveland, Ohio. Utilizing participatory thematic analysis, the participants established four main thematic categories connected to the neighborhood which have a strong influence on youth health and well-being. These categories included: (1) Crime and safety; (2) Housing and the built environment; (3) Social Influence; (4) Community Activities. By involving youth as co-constructors of the research, we elicited perspectives on the pathways between a healthy neighborhood to healthy residents, with implications for future research, policy, and intervention programming aimed at improving the health and well-being of children and youth.

RESILIENCE ACADEMY STUDENT INTERNSHIP MODEL AS AN INNOVATIVE WAY TO ENHANCE GEOSPATIALLY LITERATE FUTURE WORK FORCE IN AFRICA

Abstract. This paper is based on the experiences from Resilience Academy project in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where students’ are engaged to a mass-internships for a period of 8-12 weeks. Student internship model of the Resilience Academy is designed to work with the local organisations to conduct geospatial data collection campaigns based on the use of various open-source data and tools combined with community mapping and digital online working. Simultaneously, students’ exposure to practical training during the internship provides them with relevant applied geospatial skills, which increase their future employment opportunities and participation in informed decision-making.

Spatial analysis of domestic water use and rural livelihoods in a semi-arid African highland

Rural communities throughout sub-Sahara Africa are hampered by unequal access to water resources, economic markets, and transportation. Further, development programs do not always provide uniform access to water supply, especially in water scarce regions. With a growing concern over the limited supply of ecosystem services, the need to understand how the complex realities of water use is affected by socio-cultural factors—including household tenure, size, income, and resource management practices—is urgent. This study uses qualitative (e.g., group discussions, village community mapping, key-informant interviews) data to inform quantitative models that test for spatial relationships among factors governing rural livelihoods among water sources across a village in Northern Tanzania. Models identified the social, environmental, and economic factors that affect a households’: 1) ability to meet the UN's minimum per capita threshold for water use; and 2) total domestic water use. These results reinforce the importance of family size, access to transportation, and water governance strategies affecting rural water use. The integration of traditional resource management with regional governance policies improved water use and protected water supplies. Investments in water infrastructure need to consider how additional supplies affect access to and management of resources across water scarce landscapes.

Polyphasic Approach to Understand Bacterial Community Landscape in Soda Lake Environment

Scientific advancement in exploration and exploitation of microbial community structure is fundamentally driven by discoveries and development of new technologies. This review summarizes the techno-scientific advancement based exploitation of the bacterial diversity of saline and soda lakes. Advancement in DNA based technologies have become a paradigm shift in microbiome community mapping of extreme environment. Further, we focused on alternative modern techniques that can be used as for the identification of bacteria and classification of bacterial diversity, as well as highlighted general description of hypersaline and soda lakes as microbial habitats based on molecular techniques. However molecular methods are detailed briefly as are the standard techniques for assessing genome content for taxonomic classification of bacterial diversity. This review provides advance microbial techniques insight for exploitation of microbial community landscape from extreme water bodies.

Mapping Community Engagement with Urban Crowd-Sourcing

Cities are highly dynamic entities, with urban elements such as businesses, cultural and social Points-of- Interests (POIs), housing, transportation and the like, continuously changing. In order to maintain accurate spatial information in these settings, crowd-sourcing models of data collection, such as in OpenStreetMap (OSM), have come under investigation. Like many crowd-sourcing platforms (e.g., Wikipedia), these geo- wikis exhibit tailing-off activity, bringing into ques- tion their long-term viability. In this paper, we begin an investigation into the sustainability of urban crowd-sourcing, by studying the network structure and ge- ographical mapping of implicit communities of con- tributors in OSM. We observe that spatially clustered crowd-sourcing communities produce higher coverage than those with looser geographic affinity. We discuss the positive implications that this has on the future of urban crowd-sourcing.