Linking Geomatics and Participatory Social Analysis for Environmental Monitoring

Case Studies from Malawi

Datos Bibliográficos

ID14701598
AutoresNicholas Haan (Clark Labs, Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA, autor de correspondencia), Davison Gumbo (Clark Labs, Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA), J Ronald Eastman (Clark University), J Eastman (Clark Labs, Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA), James Toledano (Clark Labs, Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA), Mathilde Snel (World Resources Institute, Washington, DC, USA)
Año2000
Volumen37
Número4
Páginas21-32
Fecha de publicación2000-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaCartographica The International Journal for Geographic Information and Geovisualization (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0317-7173 • E-ISSN: 1911-9925
EditorialUniversity of Toronto Press Inc. (UTPress) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.3138/u52p-1r20-9l57-9373
OpenAlexW2121197732
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas13

In this paper we demonstrate the need for linking geomatics and social analysis methodologies for enumerating and describing land-use change. Until recently, these two methods were used as distinct approaches at varying levels of inquiry. Using two case studies from Malawi, inductive and deductive approaches to land-use/landcover monitoring illustrate the utility of linking geomatics and social analysis as complementary tools. While both studies integrate geomatics with community-based social analysis, the starting point for each is different. The first case study begins by identifying where environmental change is occurring without preconceived hypotheses of causes. The use of geomatics in this case guides the researchers in determining where to conduct more in-depth analysis of explanations of change. The second case study begins with an environmental policy question - "What has been the effect of market liberalization on the environment?" - and then uses remote sensing to evaluate a set of hypotheses. This is the deductive approach. Regardless of the starting point, integrating geomatics and social analysis can promote a cycle of inductive and deductive research. In this way geomatics and social analysis not only address different questions but also can be used to verify and further develop contributions to nature-society dynamics

Citizen journalism · Data science · Deductive method · Geography · Geomatics · Qualitative research · Remote sensing · Social science · Sociology · World Wide Web · Agricultural Innovations and Practices · Computer Science · Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management · Land Use and Ecosystem Services