Participation, Information, Action: A Collaborative Map to Evaluate Mobility Spots

Public participation is a fundamental step of decision-making processes to achieve a good social sharing and robustness of the decision itself. In transport decisions spatial criteria assume a key role, since their assessment, and therefore their classification, is also dependent on the spatial distribution of people affected by a project. In this view, collaborative mapping can be considered a tool able to engage communities and individuals in spatial decision-making in the context of transport planning and, more in general, in designing their own environment. This study presents a first test of a collaborative mapping process, conducted within a design workshop aimed at finding solutions to secure an unsafe crossing to access a university campus; the collected information were discussed directly with the public, in a venue with designers, citizens and decision-makers. Starting from advantages and disadvantages of this experience, the authors developed the framework for a spatial collaborative tool aimed at evaluating the safety and pleasantness of urban spaces and mobility spots able to permit a wider participation. The tool is conceived as bidirectional: on the one hand, users enter information on their mobility habits and provide the location and assessment of points considered dangerous during their trips; on the other, the map itself is attractive since it includes the information provided by the other users. Results coming from the participation can be useful for decision-makers to evaluate priority in the design of new interventions in the study area.