What is Participatory GIS?
Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) empowers campus communities to generate geographic data reflecting lived human experiences, turning qualitative feelings into spatial evidence for campus planning.
The 7-Step Participatory GIS Data Pipeline
How your 60-second contribution transforms into campus policy
Individual Anonymous Observation
A student or faculty member identifies a specific spot on campus and logs their emotional perception (relaxed to stressful) along with drivers (shade, noise, seating).
Spatial Geopoint Georeferencing
The submission is assigned WGS84 coordinates (Latitude and Longitude) within the university's geographic boundary polygon using the Jordan curve ray-casting algorithm.
Spatial Database Persistence
The observation is stored in a structured GIS database (GeoJSON / Spatial JSON), sanitized to remove any accidental personal identifiers.
Spatial Binning & Regular Grid Aggregation
To preserve personal anonymity and eliminate individual tracking, data is aggregated into 25m, 50m, or 100m spatial grid bins. Bins with fewer than 3 responses are withheld from public view.
Hotspot Analysis & Kernel Density Estimation (KDE)
Spatial interpolation algorithms calculate the density and intensity of stress versus relaxation clusters across campus walkability corridors.
Campus Environmental Synthesis
Geomatics analysts cross-reference mood hotspots with physical environmental attributes (e.g. tree canopy coverage, building echo, traffic proximity).
Evidence-Based Planning Recommendations
The Geomatics Honor Society publishes actionable recommendations for university facilities: planting sound-dampening hedgerows, adding shaded benches, or improving nighttime path lighting.
Data Ethics & Privacy Charter
Responsible spatial data stewardship is the foundation of our research.
1. Absolute Anonymity
We do not collect names, student ID numbers, emails, IP addresses, or device identifiers. No user accounts are required.
2. Voluntary Participation
Participation is 100% voluntary. You may choose to map one location, many locations, or simply explore the public results.
3. Data Minimization
Only spatial coordinates, categorical emotion scores, and environmental factors are stored. Freeform text is optional and sanitized.
4. Aggregated Spatial Reporting
Public presentations emphasize generalized heatmaps and grid bins rather than individual points, preserving complete spatial confidentiality.
5. Non-Clinical Study Boundary
This project measures environmental perception and spatial design. It is not a mental health diagnostic tool or healthcare service.
6. Transparent Public Utility
All findings and planning recommendations are shared openly with the university community and administration to advocate for equitable campus improvements.