Abstract
Mobile GIS to Manage Indigenous Technical Knowledge in Developing Countries
Track: Tribal/Indigenous GIS programs
Author(s): Jeroen Verplanke
Local communities in developing countries apply their indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) for sustainable resource management. If communities can use a user-friendly geo-database to assist management of their resources, they could also use the Geo-information tools to manage and preserve their ITK. Mobile GIS has been opted as a solution for many resource management issues. A PDA running ArcPad software connected to a GPS can supply the necessary technology for effective data collection in for instance community forests. The rapid price decrease of recent years has offered the opportunity to apply these tools in developing countries. Most interesting however is the possibility these tools offer to combine ITK and GIS mapping techniques. Experiences with community forestry have resulted in a field guide which communities can use to map forest resources with their indigenous knowledge of the area.
Jeroen Verplanke
ITC
P.O. box 6
Enschede , Overijssel 7500AA
Netherlands
Phone: +31534874532
E-mail: verplanke@itc.nl