Participatory Mapping and Visualization of Local Knowledge: An Example from Eberbach, Germany

Carolin Klonner; Tomás J. Usón; Nicole Aeschbach; Bernhard Höfle

doi:10.1007/s13753-020-00312-8

Volume 12 Issue 1

Dec. 2021

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Carolin Klonner, Tomás J. Usón, Nicole Aeschbach, Bernhard Höfle. Participatory Mapping and Visualization of Local Knowledge: An Example from Eberbach, Germany[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2021, 12(1): 56-71. doi: 10.1007/s13753-020-00312-8

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Carolin Klonner, Tomás J. Usón, Nicole Aeschbach, Bernhard Höfle. Participatory Mapping and Visualization of Local Knowledge: An Example from Eberbach, Germany[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2021, 12(1): 56-71. doi: 10.1007/s13753-020-00312-8

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Participatory Mapping and Visualization of Local Knowledge: An Example from Eberbach, Germany

doi: 10.1007/s13753-020-00312-8

1 Institute of Geography, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
2 Institute of European Ethnology and IRI THESys(Integrative Research Institute on Transformations of HumanEnvironment Systems), Humboldt University of Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany

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We would like to thank the participants of our study for sharing their experiences and knowledge with us. Moreover, we thank the local authorities of the city of Eberbach for their information and support of this study. We would like to express gratitude to our colleagues from GIScience Heidelberg for their help during the data collection. We acknowledge the support of the WINKolleg of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (HAW).

Available Online: 2021-12-25
Publish Date: 2021-12-25

Abstract

Abstract

A rise in the number of flood-affected people and areas has increased the interest in new methods and concepts that account for this change. Citizens are integrated into disaster risk reduction processes through participatory approaches and can provide valuable up-to-date local knowledge. During a field study in Eberbach (Baden– Wuerttemberg, Germany) sketch maps and questionnaires were used to capture local knowledge about flooding. Based on a previous study on urban flooding in Santiago de Chile, the tools were adapted and applied to river flooding in the city of Eberbach, which is regularly flooded by the Neckar River, a major river in southwest Germany. The empirical database of the study comprises 40 participants in the study area and 40 in a control area. Half of the participants in each group are residents and half are pedestrians. Purposive sampling was used, and the questionnaires aimed to gather demographic information and explore what factors, such as property, influence the risk perception of the study participants. The results show that residents identify a larger spatial area as at risk than pedestrians, and owning property leads to higher risk awareness. The flood type influenced the choice of the base maps for the sketch maps. For river flooding, one map with an overview of the area was sufficient, while for urban flooding a second map with more details of the area also enables the marking of small streets. The information gathered can complement authoritative data such as from flood models. This participatory approach also increases the communication and trust between local governments, researchers, and citizens.
- Disaster risk reduction,
- Flooding,
- Local knowledge,
- Participatory approach,
- Sketch maps,
- Volunteered geographic information

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References(41)

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